John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC) and Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Armenia, will make a fact-finding visit to Yerevan on 16-17 January.
Talks are scheduled with the President of the Republic Serzh Sargsyan, the President of he National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan, the Foreign Affairs minister Edward Nalbandyan and the Justice minister Hrayr Tovmasyan, as well as with the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Tigran Mukuchyan. The co-rapporteurs will also meet representatives of political parties and the judicial authorities, as well as NGOs and the Armenian delegation to the PACE.
Discussions will mainly focus on the follow-up to PACE Resolution 1837 (2011) – on the investigation into the ten casualties of the March 2008 events, the creation of an independent police complaints mechanism, and civilian oversight over the police – as well as on preparations for the 2012 parliamentary elections, and on the priority areas for the monitoring procedure.