CE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER ARRIVING TO ARMENIA

Regnum
March 11 2008
Russia

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Coucil of Europe Thomas Hammarberg
is to visit Armenia March 12 on a three-day visit. The goal of the
visit is to to cooperate with the Armenian authorities in effective
protection of the fundamental human rights in the aftermath of the
turmoil in Yerevan. During the visit, the commissioner is going
to meet with the president of Armenia Robert Kochyaryan, prime
minister Serzh Sarkisyan, parliament speaker Tigran Torosyan,
ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, constitutional court chairman
Gagik Harutyunyan, ombudsman Armen Arutyunyan, representatives of
international organizations, diplomats, and activists of civil society,
REGNUM correspondent was informed at the CE Yerevan press service.

Hammarberg is also going to visit prisons, police stations, and
hospitals to meet participants of the recent events in Armenia. The
commissioner said he was concerned with the human rights situation
in Armenia and the outcomes of the announced state of emergency. He
has stressed the need to urgently "restore the situation with no
hindrances for the work of media, political parties, and non-government
organizations.