NOT SEWING HATRED BUT CRITICISM SHOULD BE THE JOB OF THE OPPOSITION
LILIT POGHOSYAN
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 13, 2008
Armenia
This week the National Assembly worked diligently, trying to normalize
the public life declined from its right route due to the post-election
developments, something that is enshrined in PACE famous resolution.
In response to our questions member of the `Republican’ Parliamentary
Faction, Chairman of NA Standing Committee Hranush Hakobyan assessed
the effectiveness of the implemented work.
`The working group established by the recommendation of the country’s
President elaborated a program of events for the realization of
resolution 1609. The conversation is firstly about setting up an
independent body to investigate the details of March 1 developments.
The discussion of this issue ended today, and the committee will start
its activity during the extraordinary session on Monday.
The second important issue is the review of the restrictions on massive
events. As you know the negative norms that were included in the law
passed on November 17 are no more. The only thing left is, the
President’s signature. The release of the political prisoners is also
one of the important issues.’
‘Do you mean those political figures detained in connection with March
1 developments are political prisoners?’
`In my view law enforcers should answer this question. Everyone must
have opinion and must express this opinion. Expressing opinion of
course is not a legal norm, but that expression was included in the
resolution and the Prosecutor’s, almost every day makes announcements
regarding who has been released, who admitted his fault, who was freed
from punishment, how many detainees are still in prison, etc.
It is very important to clarify the reason of the death cases. This is
the key issue faced by our society and far not the Council of Europe
and NA temporary committee has lots of work in this direction. All the
crimes must be disclosed.
The second very important principle is the issue of giving strength of
law to the rights envisaged for the opposition. Of course opposition
always has rights and can realize these rights as a political force
represented in the parliament. The changes made in the regulation
extend the opportunities given to the opposition, in terms of political
debate, development of parliamentary culture etc.
It is the parliamentary majority that makes decisions, but they can’t
ignore the opinion of the minority. I don’t think we are separated into
different camps and, that one camp wants to build the country and the
other wants to destroy it.
After all we all face one task to move the country forward. It is
another thing that the methods and approaches are different. It is
natural. The authorities use their levers to solve the problems faced
by the country and the job of the opposition is to criticize, to
propose alternatives, rather than sewing hatred and pointing at the
failings all the time, trying to pressurize the authorities.