DAVID HAROUTIUNIAN: APRIL 17 PACE RESOLUTION PROCEEDS FROM ARMENIA’S INTERESTS

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. All stipulations of the resolution
adopted at the April 17 plenary sitting of PACE spring session
on activity of democratic institutions in Armenia, irrespective of
their formulations, proceed from Armenia’s interests and are aimed at
improving these institutions’ activity. RPA member David Haroutiunian,
the head of the Armenian delegation in PACE, the Chairman of the
RA National Assembly Standing Committee for State and Legal Issues,
expressed such an opinion at the April 22 press conference.

According to him, PACE does not oblige Armenia to fulfil the proposals
stipulated by the resolution, "it is up to the sovereign country to
make a decision," but PACE has a right, if they are not fulfilled,
to discuss the issue of depriving the Armenian delegation of the right
of vote during the opening of the June session. In D. Haroutiunian’s
opinion, the Armenian authorities should be interested in taking some
steps in the direction of resolution’s fulfilment in this short term,
which will be also discussed within the framework of the political
coalition soon.

According to D. Haroutiunian, the most important problems stipulated
by the resolution, elaboration of mechanisms aimed at guaranteeing
opposition’s proper rights and duties in the political system,
improval of electoral processes, real independence of the National
Commission of Television and Radio, Council of Public TV and Radio
Company, guaranteeing freedom of rallies, independence of judicial
power and public confidence to it, efficient public control over
Police actions to people arrested and imprisoned arbitrarily, as
well as ensuring an independent investigation on the March 1 events,
release of people imprisoned for artificial or political accusations,
need to be solved urgently.

Touching upon PACE’s proposal on guaranteeing an independent
investigation of the March 1 events, D. Haroutiunian, in particular,
expressed an opinion that creation of an ad hoc parliamentary
commission for that purpose is not expedient from point of view of
efficiency. In his words, that function can be reserved for the
RA Ombudsperson by involving "independent experts having proper
knowledge in the respective sphere, in particular, specialists in
Police actions."

"I am sure that our Police was not prepared either for such a
situation and coming across such a situation, it not always acted
as a well-prepared Police force having proper equipment would act,"
D. Haroutiunian said.