Council of Europe welcomes the commuting of 42 death sentences in Armenia

Strasbourg,  - The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, has warmly welcomed the decision of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to commute all outstanding death sentences to life imprisonment.

President Kocharyan reportedly cited Armenia's obligations as a Council of Europe member state as the reason for reducing the sentences of the 42 prisoners involved.

Mr Schwimmer said: "I am delighted that President Kocharyan has taken such a positive and commendable step forward. The death penalty is an affront to all notions of dignity and human rights, and has no place in the Europe of today.

"This decision is a clear sign that Armenia is determined to honour its commitments to the Council of Europe, and wants to become fully integrated within the European family of nations," he added.