( www.coe.int ) - "I appeal for calm in Yerevan, and I call on all sides to do everything in their power to prevent further violence," said the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Lluis Maria de Puig, reacting to events in the Armenian capital.
"I deeply regret the deaths and injuries that have already occurred, and repeat that the authorities must show the utmost restraint and respect the principle of proportionality. The state of emergency that has been declared is an extreme measure and should be lifted as soon as possible: round-ups of peaceful demonstrators and gagging the media is not the response of real democrats to differing views.
Whatever disagreements there are over the fairness of the election, they should be worked out through the election appeals process and the Constitutional Court and not through clashes on the streets. Talking, not shooting, is the way forward. PACE stands ready to do all it can to help achieve this, and is following events extremely closely."