Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian held a meeting...

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian held a meeting with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvares Jil-Robles. Minister Oskanian reported that the meeting participants first of all discussed the abolition of capital punishment in Armenia. A deadline, June 2003, was recently set for Armenia to ratify Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and introduce amendments into the Criminal code of Armenia. "We are greatly satisfied with the results of today's negotiations," the minister said, pointing out that Armenia's authorities appreciate the CE understanding of the problem of abolition of capital punishment in the country. In his turn, Jil-Robles expressed confidence that in October-November the Armenian Parliament will adopt a new wording of the Criminal Code, which will not contain an article on capital punishment, and by 2003 the country will have ratified Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention and fulfilled its commitment to the Council of Europe.