The Council of Europe welcomed a vote by the Armenian...

The Council of Europe welcomed a vote by the Armenian parliament to lift the death penalty for most crimes as a step in the right direction towards Armenian membership of the council. However it asked that the remaining restrictions be removed. Armenia kept the death penalty for crimes linked to terrorism, brutal murders and the rape of minors. The council had given Armenia until June 2003 to lift the death penalty, it was not clear whether the deadline for removing the exceptions would be extended. "Partial abolition of the death penalty in Armenia is a move towards fulfilling this country's commitments as a Council of Europe member State", said Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer. "This is a first step in the right direction. Nevertheless I do hope that Armenian parliamentarians will lift, as soon as possible, the last restrictions to allow the complete abolition of this unacceptable punishment", he added.