(coe) - At a meeting in Paris yesterday, PACE Monitoring Committee welcomed Armenia's constitutional reform, carried out with Council of Europe assistance, which has created conditions conductive to the implementation of many of the country's commitments. However, in a draft report the committee also warned that an improved political climate, and dialogue between the ruling coalition and opposition, would be necessary for the constitution to work effectively, reports Trend.
Simply passing legislation is not enough to implement democratic reforms in the country. The laws must be applied, the committee stressed. Armenia must now furnish proof of how far it has progressed along the road to democracy and European integration: the forthcoming elections must comply with European standards for free and fair elections, and media coverage of the election campaign and the elections must be pluralist and unbiased.
The report, by Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD) and Mikko Elo (Finland, SOC), is due to be debated by PACE at its January plenary session.