SERGE SARGSIAN: "ARMENIA WILL PROVE THAT ITS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNING IS IRREVERSIBLE"
Noyan Tapan
Ju ne 23, 2008
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian, the President of the
Republic of Armenia, has made an exclusive commentary for the internet
service of the radio Liberty, the full text of which has been provided
to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office.
"For the past few months Armenia appeared on the first pages of
the European press for two reasons: good and bad. The first are the
disorders, which took place in our capital after the presidential
elections held in February, and the second one is the meeting, which
took place on June 7 between me and my Azeri colleague. Both of them
stressed that Armenia is a country, which is in the transition period
of the European Neighbourhood. Irrespective of the numerous obstacles,
existing on our way, Armenia deepens its reforms and strengthens its
democratic institutions as part of its way leading to a stable and
good governing.
The post-election disagreements among the political forces gave me an
opportunity to form a large political coalition, uniting four out of
the five factions represented in the parliament. The important part of
the mission of that coalition are the social and economic reforms of
democratic trend, which are being implemented at this moment. We are
working together in keeping with the letter and spirit of Resolution
1609 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The considerable reforms in conformity with international standards
include the liberalization of the law on "Holding of Meetings,
Rallies, Marches and Demonstrations", the expansion of the rights of
the parliamentary opposition through special legislative amendments,
which guarantee a role of involvement in the political system and
decision making process, the complete package of the amendments of
the Electoral Code in conformity with the OSCE recommendations, which
include provisions with regard to the participation of represented,
as well as not represented forces in the parliament and essential
amendments in the law on "Television and Radio".
All these amendments have been implemented with the positive marks
of the experts of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
Anyway, these are decisive steps in the direction of long-term reforms,
which will be addressed to the dissatisfaction, which has been
brought forth as a result of the recent elections and will guarantee
greater freedom for the people of Armenia. We welcome any suggestion
from the European Union and France, which assumes its presidency,
in the direction of assisting these reforms and guaranteeing their
productive implementation.
Besides the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, we have initiated serious reforms of the law
enfocement system, as well as a special parliamentary commission has
been created, which will be engaged in the study of the post-election
tragic events. This commission will enjoy the largest possible
authority to study the facts and introduce its own independent
conclusion. We call extra-parliamentary groups and international
experts to join these efforts.
Jointly with the PACE Monitoring Commission we have observed
important progress up to now. However, there is much work to
be done. Fortunately, there is political will for advancing our
pretentious plans in our coalition. We accept that the issue of being
attractive for Europe and the larger international community is set
in front of us.
The history has been severe towards Armenia. Our people has overcome
numerous difficulties both in remote and near past. However, we
are inflexible that our country should not always be stuck into the
transitional stage. Taking the USA movement of human civil rights
as an example, I am sure that irrespective of the coming challenges,
we will overcome. As one of the enthusiastic members of the European
Neighbourhood, Armenia will finally prove that its democratic governing
is irreversible."