Armenia submitted a schedule of reforms to the Monitoring Committee of the CE Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Paris, France, on March 17.

Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Harutyunyan told RFE/RL that, according to the schedule, Armenia’s election law is to be reformed by the end of this year, which will enable the country to start preparing for new elections. He pointed out that the first steps will be taken within the next month, before PACE’s spring session.

Harutyunyan also reported that the schedule of measures proposed by the Armenian authorities provides for a new law on big popular events. A broadcasting contest is scheduled for this July, and the A1+ TV Company will be able to participate.

Harutyunyan said that PACE Rapporteur for Armenia George Colombier welcomed the schedule of reforms submitted by the Armenian authorities. He stressed that the PACE Monitoring Committee will see to it that Armenia honor its commitments. He also pointed out the need for judicial reforms in the context of the OSCE/ODIHR report on the trials of the Opposition members arrested amid the post-election processes in Armenia in 2008.

PACE Co-Rapporteurs George Colombier and John Prescott are to arrive in Yerevan this April to hold a more detailed discussion of the schedule of reforms.

The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) expressed the confidence yesterday that the Government-proposed reforms are nothing but “half-hearted measures.”

T.P.