PACE to keep watching Armenia`s steps to overcome political crisis
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) has said it will continue following the developments in
Armenia, including the March 2008 violence that followed
presidential elections.
In passing a resolution on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia last week, the assembly welcomed the June 19 amnesty for those arrested during the post-election disturbances, saying authorities clearly indicated "their willingness to overcome the political crisis" that followed the February 2008 elections, but said it would follow the developments regarding the remaining cases.
Further, PACE expressed regrets following the breakdown of the work of the independent expert group to establish the facts in relation to the March 1-2, 2008 events due to tensions between its members and the politicizing of its work.
"PACE considers that an independent, impartial and credible investigation into these events is still necessary, and therefore reaffirms its demand that such an investigation be conducted in line with the criteria outlined by the assembly, not withstanding the breakdown of the fact-finding group."
Further, noting that undue restrictions are still placed on public gatherings for rallies, the assembly repeated its call for authorities "to respect the principle of freedom of assembly in practice", and monitor the implementation of the amended law on rallies and demonstrations.
Given the numerous allegations of widespread fraud during the election of the Yerevan City Council on May 31, and the fact that public trust in the electoral process is still very low in Armenia, PACE also stressed that electoral reform should be a priority for the authorities.
The resolution also calls on the government and opposition to hold a dialogue to improve the "political life" in Armenia.
Prior to the vote on the document, a PACE Monitoring Committee member noted in her address that she had witnessed numerous violations of the law during last year`s presidential election in the country. The Committee representative emphasized that no law enforcement officers have been held accountable for the killings of 10 people during the putdown of post-election protests.
"The fact that amnesty was announced on the eve of PACE`s summer session cannot but raise suspicions," she said. "The Armenian authorities have proven that democratic reforms in the country may take place only under PACE`s pressure."
In passing a resolution on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia last week, the assembly welcomed the June 19 amnesty for those arrested during the post-election disturbances, saying authorities clearly indicated "their willingness to overcome the political crisis" that followed the February 2008 elections, but said it would follow the developments regarding the remaining cases.
Further, PACE expressed regrets following the breakdown of the work of the independent expert group to establish the facts in relation to the March 1-2, 2008 events due to tensions between its members and the politicizing of its work.
"PACE considers that an independent, impartial and credible investigation into these events is still necessary, and therefore reaffirms its demand that such an investigation be conducted in line with the criteria outlined by the assembly, not withstanding the breakdown of the fact-finding group."
Further, noting that undue restrictions are still placed on public gatherings for rallies, the assembly repeated its call for authorities "to respect the principle of freedom of assembly in practice", and monitor the implementation of the amended law on rallies and demonstrations.
Given the numerous allegations of widespread fraud during the election of the Yerevan City Council on May 31, and the fact that public trust in the electoral process is still very low in Armenia, PACE also stressed that electoral reform should be a priority for the authorities.
The resolution also calls on the government and opposition to hold a dialogue to improve the "political life" in Armenia.
Prior to the vote on the document, a PACE Monitoring Committee member noted in her address that she had witnessed numerous violations of the law during last year`s presidential election in the country. The Committee representative emphasized that no law enforcement officers have been held accountable for the killings of 10 people during the putdown of post-election protests.
"The fact that amnesty was announced on the eve of PACE`s summer session cannot but raise suspicions," she said. "The Armenian authorities have proven that democratic reforms in the country may take place only under PACE`s pressure."
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