US OFFICIAL DISCUSSES HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY WITH ARMENIAN PREMIER

Armenian Public TV
June 24 2008
Armenia

Important democratization messages have come from Washington as
well. US Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer said in Yerevan
today that Armenian-US relations may improve significantly if Armenia
takes steps to keep on the democracy path. At his meeting with Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan, he said that he has come to Armenia to
reaffirm the message from the US embassy and other partners: the USA
is Armenia’s partner and supporter.

[Correspondent] The meeting with the prime minister [Tigran Sargsyan]
began on time but ended later than planned. The US official [David
Kramer] suggested that Tigran Sargsyan should sanction rallies,
hold a trustworthy investigation into the events of 1 March [clashes
between police and opposition protesters following the presidential
election in February], and release those detained for political views.

Speaking at a session of the parliamentary commission set up to
investigate the events of 1 March, Kramer pointed to the importance of
public’s trust in the commission. Sargsyan assured Kramer that no-one
has been charged for political views or activities in connection with
the criminal case launched. Democratic traditions, Sargsyan said,
do not allow any intervention in the work of courts; therefore, it is
too early to make statements until after the trials are over. Kramer
voiced concern over anti-Semitic propaganda in the Armenian media,
saying that no such things had existed before. Sargsyan said that
such moods did not exist in our country. Moreover, 60 trees brought
from Israel will be planted in the Armenian-Israeli alley to mark
the 60th anniversary of that country. Kramer discussed human rights
and democracy at the Ministry of Justice.

[Armenian Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan] It is a unique and very
nice case if a minister manages to eliminate human rights violations
in his ministry. I have managed to reach that goal partially so far.

[Correspondent] Next and the final meeting in Kramer’s tight schedule
was with Armenia’s prosecutor-general. Aghvan Hovsepyan assured him
that the investigators would ensure the comprehensiveness of the
investigation and would do their best to find all the evidence to
support the charges or drop them.