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| 15:00:34 | 28-05-2005 | Politics |
FORMATION OF OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTE IN ARMENIA WAS PREMATURE
In Europe the institute of ombudsman is a parliamentary body, since human
rights are violated by the executive power’, chairman of the Helsinki
Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan noted. He is against the appointment
of the Ombudsman by the President. `Actually the formation of the institute
of ombudsman of Armenia was a mere formal step in order to demonstrate the
fulfillment of commitments to the CE’, he says. Aveti, Ishkhanyan considers
that for real correspondence to the European standards the appointment of
the human rights defender, guarantees of his independence and existence as a
parliamentary body should be precisely fixed in the Constitution. `Otherwise
we will not be able to say that the institute has been already formed in the
RA’, he notes.
He also point out to the election of the human rights defender. `Taking into
consideration the fact that the parliamentary majority depends on the
executive power the election of the Ombudsman should not be conditioned by
the NA majority only’, he stressed. In his opinion the terms of the
Ombudsman’s office should be fixed in the Constitution and it should be no
less that 3 and no more than 5 years. As for the re-election, it can take
place only in case the correlation of forces has changed in the National
Assembly, A. Ishkhanyan says.
When commenting of the activities of the institute of ombudsman in Armenia,
he said, `Even in winter 2004 I stated that the human rights defender will
face serious challenges having in mind the opposition rallies. Everyone knew
that human rights will be violated at that time, however the developments
exceeded all the expectations. Unfortunately the newly appointed Ombudsman
did not pass the trial. The formation of the institute of ombudsman in
Armenia was premature, as the Ombudsman was appointed by the President’, he
resumed.
Victoria Abrahamyan