PACE President Begins Official Visit to Armenia; Refuses to Take Questions from Reporters

Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), began her official visit to Armenia on Monday, April 13. During a press briefing held at the RA National Assembly, Brasseur spoke about her meetings and discussions with Armenian MPs; the PACE President, who had arrived half an hour after she was scheduled to, however, refused to take questions from reporters. Brasseur left immediately after the briefing, citing “hectic schedule” as the reason. 

Anne Brasseur said in her speech that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is going to draft a report on the Nagnorno-Karabakh issue. “The purpose of the report is not to interfere in the OSCE Minsk Group process, but to contribute to the solutions. In order to find solutions, we have to discuss the concerns of all the parties. So I can only hope that the Armenian delegation [to PACE] is actively participating and helping in the making of the report,” she clarified.

Talking about the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, the PACE President said the massacre "is just not acceptable. We must do everything to [ensure] that it is does not happen again.”

The commemoration events dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide are important to pay tribute to all the victims of the massacres, to find a common understanding now in order to prevent such atrocities in the future, she added.

During her official visit, 13-15 April, PACE President Anne Brasseur is scheduled to meet the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Meetings are also scheduled with parliamentary groups of the National Assembly, the Armenian delegation to PACE and representatives of civil society. She will also meet students of Yerevan State University, the official website of the Council of Europe reports.