ICG LAYS DEMANDS TO ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2008 20:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Crisis Group has issued a report
"Armenia: Picking up Pieces" which mentions that "Armenia’s flawed
presidential election, the subsequent lethal crackdown against a
peaceful protest rally, the introduction of a state of emergency and
extensive arrests of opposition supporters has brought the country
to its deepest crisis since the war against Azerbaijan over Nagorno
Karabakh ended in 1994."

The situation deprives Serzh Sargsyan, scheduled to be inaugurated as
president on 9 April 2008, of badly needed legitimacy and handicaps
prospects for much needed democratic reform and resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict alike, according to the ICG.

"On 1 March 2008, police and security troops broke up a peaceful
demonstration that had been going on continuously in Yerevan’s Liberty
Square to protest the announced official result of the 19 February
presidential election. Clashes with demonstrators intensified later
in the day, and the violence, involving firearms, arson and looting,
left seven civilians and one police officer dead. More than 450 people
were reportedly injured, including several dozen police and troops,"
the report says.

"Armenia needs to address the electoral violence as well as more
fundamental questions regarding the country’s governance. If the
incoming presidency takes the right course, the EU and the U.S. need
to help foster reconciliation and deeper institutional reform.

Their reaction to the flawed election and lethal crack-down, however,
has been inadequate. The international community needs to send a
stronger message to ensure that Armenia remains a democratic state,
with a functional opposition that does not live in fear and where
basic human rights, including the right to assembly and expression,
are guaranteed."

"To avoid a crisis of legitimacy and the concomitant political
instability, the Armenian authorities should:

Release persons detained due to their political activity and cease
arrests and threats against the opposition, including against
the runner-up in the 19 February election, former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian;

Authorise an independent investigation, with international
participation, into the 1 March violence and follow through on
the pledge to punish policemen who illegally used weapons against
civilians;

Revoke the amendments to the law on freedom of assembly adopted
during the emergency rule and allow peaceful protests in locations
where they will not cause a threat to public order;

Lift remaining media restrictions and refrain from new restrictions
on the media or access to the internet;

Investigate claims of violence and attacks against political party
vote monitors at polling stations and initiate criminal proceedings
against perpetrators and

Pursue a credible dialogue process with the opposition in an effort
to lower political tensions."

"If the government does not take credible steps to implement the
measures recommended above and if arrests of opposition members
continue, the EU and the U.S. should suspend foreign aid; the
Council of Europe should consider suspending Armenia’s membership;
the U.S., EU and EU member states should consider, especially if
there is more violence, initiating a diplomatic embargo on visits by
President Sargsyan and senior officials of the security services,"
the report says.