PACE rapporteur:

At the end of a monitoring visit to Yerevan, the co-rapporteur for Armenia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Axel Fischer, has welcomed the evolving dialogue between the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and the extra-parliamentary opposition party, the Armenian National Congress, says the co-rapporteur's statement made upon completion of his three-day visit to Yerevan.

Mr Fischer said he hoped this would go hand in hand with a similar constructive dialogue between the ruling coalition and parliamentary opposition in the National Assembly. "I am very satisfied with the start of this dialogue, a long-standing wish of the Assembly, which is essential for the ongoing normalisation of the political environment in Armenia.  I call on all parties to display maximum flexibility and good faith to make it a success."

He also stressed the importance of the forthcoming parliamentary elections for the democratic development of the country. "The new election code provides a solid basis for democratic elections but it must now be implemented in good faith, both in letter and spirit," he said. "Electoral stakeholders, especially the general public in Armenia, must have full trust in the electoral process and its outcome. I therefore call upon all parties to ensure the democratic nature of the elections and to refrain from any actions or statements that could undermine that trust."

During the visit, Mr Fischer also discussed the renewed investigation into the 10 casualties of the March 2008 events, as well as the ongoing reforms – especially reform of the police and judiciary – recommended by the Assembly. The findings of this visit will contribute to the report that Mr Fischer will prepare, together with the other co- rapporteur John Prescott, for the Assembly's autumn session.