COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO CARRY OUT A THREE-DAY VISIT IN ARMENIA
Mediamax
March 11, 2008
Yerevan /Mediamax/. Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,
Thomas Hammarberg, will carry out a three-day visit in Armenia to
get familiar with the post-election situation.
As Mediamax was told in Yerevan Office of the Council of Europe,
during the visit, Thomas Hammarberg will meet Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sarkisian,
Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosian, the Chairman of the Constitutional
Court Gagik Harutiunian, former President and candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, the Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, as well
as representatives of international organizations, diplomats and
representatives of the civil society.
Commissioner Hammarberg will also visit prisons, police stations
and hospitals to meet with people affected by the events, which took
place on March 1 and 2 in Yerevan.
"I am concerned about the human rights situation in Armenia and the
consequences of the declaration of the state of emergency" Commissioner
of the Council of Europe stated.
He noted that "it is urgent to restore a situation where the activities
of the media, political parties and non-governmental organizations
are not hindered".
Mediamax notes that the Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed on
March 10 a decree on abolishing certain provisions of the decree on
imposing a state of emergency in Yerevan. In particular, the President
abolished the provision on temporary interruption of activities of
parties and other public organizations, which hinder the elimination of
reasons, which conditioned the implementation of a state of emergency.