OSCE IS NOT INDIFFERENT

A1 Plus | 21:32:48 | 12-05-2004 | Politics |

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin,
today welcomed the resumption of contacts between the authorities
and the opposition in Armenia.

“I encourage both sides to engage in a meaningful and genuine
dialogue in order to resolve, within the constitutional framework,
the continuing difficulties,” Ambassador Pryakhin said.

He said the participating States of the 55-nation OSCE were following
political developments in Armenia closely: “Dialogue is the best
means to achieve a common understanding, settle differences and
promote political stability.”

Vladimir Pryakhin called on the Armenian authorities to review the
cases of all those detained during recent demonstrations.

He also urged the authorities to continue their efforts to reform
the Administrative Code in order to eliminate the practice of
administrative detentions.

“This practice is incompatible with European human rights standards,”
he said.

The Head of the OSCE Office noted that other international
organizations were also very concerned about this practice, as
reflected in a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution
of 28 April.