PanARMENIAN.Net

CoE Commissioner Hammarberg to arrive in Armenia July 13
12.07.2008 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,
Thomas Hammarberg, will start on Sunday a three-day visit to Yerevan
to weigh the progress made in the investigation of the violent events
in connection with the demonstrations after the Presidential election
in March. He will meet with the highest national authorities and will
visit prisons accompanied by two members of his Office and Johan
Hirschfeldt, an international expert with extensive experience on
national commissions of inquiry.

"This visit is part of the ongoing dialogue with the Armenian
authorities, and follows the visits carried out last October and
March" said the Commissioner. "In my last report on Armenia, I
advocated for a comprehensive investigation into the 1 March
events. The aim of this visit is therefore to take stock of the
progress made towards this end and gather accurate information on the
number of detainees and their judicial status" continued Commissioner
Hammarberg. "I have also taken note of the recent Resolution adopted
by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the functioning of
democratic institutions in Armenia. In this context, I intend to
provide an international contribution towards the improvement of the
human rights situation in the country."

During his visit, the Commissioner will meet the highest State
authorities, including the President Serzh Sargsyan, leading members
of the Government, Parliament representatives, the Prosecutor General
and members of the ad hoc Parliamentary inquiry
committee. Commissioner Hammarberg will also hold further meetings
with detainees and their lawyers, the Human Rights Defender, as well
as representatives of international organizations and civil society,
the CoE press unit reports.