SERGE SARGSIAN PRESENTS HIS APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS PUT FORWARD BY "PEACEFUL ARMENIA"
Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A forum of the "Peaceful Armenia"
civil initiative with the participation of representatives of NGOs,
intellectuals and cultural figures from Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk
was held in Yerevan on April 7. The RA prime minister, president
elect Serge Sargsian took part in the forum.
The civil intiative, which was founded on March 21 by ten Armenian
NGOs and which currently has nearly 250 NGOs as its members, issued
an open letter, indicating 6 problems requiring urgent solution:
a comprehensive inquiry in and complete disclosure of the March
1 events, the revision of the recent amendments to the RA Law on
Meetings, Rallies, Processions and Demonstrations, the review of the
work principles and the heads of Public Television, the improvement of
legal acts on the institution of human rights defender (ombudsman), the
exclusion of illegal arms circulation in the country and clarifying the
legal field concerning the issue of carrying weapons by "bodyguards",
the creation of a public council with involvement of persons enjoying
the civil society’s trust in Armenia.
In his speech Serge Sargsian said that although he does not share all
the opinions voiced, he welcomes the initiative as its organizers
have expressed a wish to engage in dialog, taking the position of
retaining all that is good and leading a better life in Armenia
rather than "breaking up". In his words, everybody is concerned
today about the issue of where the country will end up if various
sections of the society will cease listening to and understanding
each other. "It is time for all of us to start a frank conversation,"
the prime minister stated.
Speaking about each of the six indicated points, S. Sargsian assured
those present that all the facts of the criminal case opened in
connection with the March 1 events will be examined and no innocent
person will be convicted. However, all those to have committed grave
crimes will be punished. It was stated that there will be people who
will call into question the investigation results and make them a
subject of speculation, just as happened to the October 27 terrorism
act case.
The prime minister expressed confidence that in parallel with
improvement of the situation, the Law on Meetings, Rallies, Processions
and Demonstartions will be revised so as to ensure citizens’ right
to express protest – without likelihood of repetition of the March 1
events. According to S. Sargsian, at his request the National Assembly
speaker has applied to the Venice Commission whose experts will arrive
in mid April. In his words, all those provisions "which contradict
the rules of European democracy" will be amended in the law. However,
those provisions, which are used in some way or another in European
countries, will be used in Armenia – in the form preferred by the
government.
As for Public Television, S. Sargsian expressed an opinion that
personnel "massacre" is not the best way to solve the problem. "We
are also concerned that some faith in this mass media outlet has been
lost in recent period," he said, adding that everything will be done
to regain this faith and the staff of Public Television is able to
work in a different manner.
"Armen Harutyunian can hardly be called a progovernment person". Having
described the Armenian ombudsman in this way, Serge Sargsian said
that legislative amendments to the institition of ombudsman will be
made if A. Harutyunian considers it necessary.
In conection with illegal circulation of weapons, S. Sargsian confessed
that the state has serious shortcomings here which must be corrected.
Expressing a willingness to cooperate with the civil initiative on
creation of a public council, the prime minister said that this body
should not a purely representative one of formal nature, nor should
it serve other purposes. In his words, it should be a nonpolitical
body, whose aim is to inform the appropriate bodies about the people’s
discontent and to put forward proposals for solution of these problems.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress