U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY OFFICIAL VISITED ARMENIA JUNE 23-25
armradio.am
26.06.2008 15:33
David Kramer, the U.S. Department of State’s Assistant Secretary
for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, visited Armenia June 23-25,
2008. The purpose of his visit was to discuss the current human rights
and democracy situation in Armenia, and in particular to register
U.S. government concerns about the recent democratic setbacks related
to February’s presidential election, March 1-2 events, and their
continuing aftermath.
During his visit, Assistant Secretary Kramer met with Armenia’s Human
Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, various human rights activists,
Mr. Levon Ter-Petrossian, various media representatives, Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsian, Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielian, Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepian, various members of the political opposition,
and various relatives of opposition activists who are currently in
detention. The U.S.
Embassy also hosted a reception in honor of Assistant Secretary Kramer
that was attended by government officials, members of the opposition,
civil society activists, and various European ambassadors to Armenia.
Assistant Secretary Kramer addressed a wide range of issues in
his discussions. In particular, he urged Armenia’s authorities to
promptly undertake a series of initiatives to help Armenia return to
a democratic path, including a) the full restoration of freedoms of
assembly and the press; b) immediate release of all members of the
opposition who have been detained for having expressed their political
views; c) the launching of a serious, credible and independent
investigation into the March 1-2 events, including into the deaths
of the ten victims; and d) engagement of the authorities in a genuine
political dialogue with the political opposition and civil society. To
this end, Assistant Secretary Kramer in his meetings urged both the
authorities and the political opposition to refrain from unhelpful
public statements that hinder the prospects for dialogue.
Assistant Secretary Kramer also urged the authorities to allow the A1
Plus television channel back on the air, and to put an immediate stop
to anti-Semitic attacks seen recently in Armenia’s Public Television
and other media.
During his trip to the South Caucasus region, Assistant Secretary
Kramer is also visiting Georgia and Azerbaijan.