Opposition Representatives Absent from Armenia’s Delegation at PACE, Committee of ARF Greece Says It Was Mandatory

On October 21-22, a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) took place in Athens, attended by representatives from 47 member countries and organizations with observer status (a total of 62 countries' parliaments). Instead of being held in Strasbourg, this year’s session is taking place in Athens to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of Greece issued a statement emphasizing that key concepts highlighted in European countries, such as parliamentary democracy, the establishment of a just rule of law, and the protection of citizens' rights, form the basis of European unity, directing these very recommendations to the entire world.

The Armenian National Assembly’s delegation can consist of 13 members; however, it notably does not include representatives of the opposition, as is mandatory for the delegations of all countries. Composed solely of members from one party, the delegation contradicts fairness and serves to waste resources.

We believe that a sensitive and just approach to the principle of democracy in the European understanding should obligate the composition of Armenia's National Assembly delegation.