AS ARFD FACTION ESTIMATES, OMBUDSMAN’S REPORT "TO SOME EXTENT SHAKED POLITICAL MIRE"

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 6, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The parliamentary hearings dedicated to
the RA Ombudsman’s current year’s special public report on the February
19 presidential elections and post-electoral developments lasted
more than seven hours. At the end of stormy discussions RA Ombudsman
A. Haroutiunian said: "I think no one pretends on telling absolute
truths in his activity, everyone just tries to do his business. Be
sure that if there is a need of another report, I will write better,
but God grant that we not need another report."

RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian and Justice Minister Gevord
Danielian presented their objections on the report. G. Danielian,
in particular, said that the whole sense of objections is not "that
we have found a mistake in Ombudsman’s judgements, but that it is
impossible to discuss the report in this form by legal procedures." He
also said that neither the Prosecutor General nor the Justice Minister
can prohibit the Ombudsman to make a political analysis, but the whole
problem is that Ombudsman’s report is a state document printed with
state funds.

Aram Safarian, the Secretary of the Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous
Armenia) faction, stated that the discussions showed that Ombudsman’s
institution is fully-fledged in Armenia, which is very good. "Our
questions regarding the analysis in Ombudsman’s special public report
did not pursue a goal to be opposed to the Ombudsman, but should
be considered as an invitation to compare the current professional
abilities and intellectual potential to have a more positive analytical
document serving its proper purpose," A. Safarian said.

Rafik Petrosian, a member of the RPA faction, said that the faction
partially agrees to the objections of the RA Prosecutor General and
Justice Minister.

Artashes Avoyan said on behalf of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
faction that the style of Ombudsman’s report, its rather categoric
evaluations are inadmissible, and it distinguishes itself with
"non-professional sensual analysis."

Ara Nranian stated on behalf of the ARFD faction that they do not agree
that the report is exaggerated and strict meanwhile saying that it has
some shortcomings. He also mentioned that the faction highly evaluates
Ombudsman’s report, which "to some extent shaked the political mire."

The members of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, in particular, said
that the Ombudsman stood high and no matter how much the authorities
criticize the report, it is the result of their bad work.

Independent deputy Viktor Dallakian said that second RA President
Robert Kocharian dismissed first RA Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdian
for the very first criticism she voiced and if the same is done with
A. Haroutiunian, the deputy can record that "Robert Kocharian’s ghost
travels about RA." He also evaluated Ombudsman’s report as disputable
and report’s political side as calling forth many questions."