YEREVAN, Dec. 20 (RFE/RL) - Armenia, on Saturday, formally met the final requirement for its impending accession to the Council of Europe, ratifying the statute of the respected organization charged with promoting democracy and human rights. The Armenian parliament voted, by 115 to one, to sign up to the Council's founding charter, reflecting broad multi-partisan support for the Long-awaited membership.

The move, described as "historic" by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, came just weeks before the country's acceptance into the unofficial club of European democracies expected at the January session of its parliamentary assembly (PACE). Neighboring Azerbaijan is also likely to join the organization. Parliament speaker Armen Khachatrian said Council of Europe membership will usher Armenia into a "civilized future." "We have said many times that the Armenian people is a European people that has embraced European values," he told deputies.

The enthusiasm of the parliament leaders was shared by other speakers. Shavarsh Kocharian of the opposition National Democratic Union (AZhM) said: "I am happy that we are entering the new millennium having adopted the Council of Europe statute."

Aghasi Arshakian of the opposition Right and Accord bloc, the only deputy to vote against the document, accused the authorities of failure to show concrete benefits which Armenia will gain from the membership. He said Yerevan's pledge to enact a law on alternative military service and protect the rights of sexual minorities and non-traditional religious sects runs counter to national security and traditions.

Arshakian, known for his anti-Western views, is a leading advocate of Armenia joining the Russia-Belarus union. The deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Tigran Torosian, countered: "Concrete results depend on ourselves. If we use the opportunities stemming from the membership we will gain a lot from it."