COMMITTEE WORKS RATHER FOR COE THAN FOR SOCIETY

A1+
16 July, 2008

"Unless the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition is engaged
in the activity of the NA ad hoc Committee studying and investigating
the March 1-2 events, no document drawn up by the Committee will
enjoy the trust and confidence of the overwhelming majority of our
society," said Aram Safarian, Secretary of the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) Faction and member of the NA ad hoc Committee.

If the opposition is not involved in the Committee we shall
have unilateral and incomplete information provided solely by
law enforcement bodies and prosecutor’s office. Consequently, The
Committee will give a subjective assessment and will fail to justify
public expectations. Besides, the Committee members need help as the
work is time-taking and massive. Therefore, Aram Safarian has asked
the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas
Hammarberg, to urge the opposition to be engaged in the Committee.

Safarian thinks that Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian should also
participate in the Committee’s activity as the Ombudsman has acquired
a great experience in the result of his own study.

During its four sittings the Committee has accumulated large-scale
information the thorough study of which will give answers to many
questions.

"The Committee will not go on holiday. A sitting will be convened
twice a week," said Aram Safarian.

Yesterday the Prosecutor General announced that the four policemen
who had applied special devices against people causing death to three
were disclosed. In reply to A1+ whether the Committee might meet the
policemen, Aram Safarian said, "If law enforcers have revealed them
I think we shall meet them."

The BHK Secretary says that the Committee is also expected to
meet with the advocates of the March 1 victims. Moreover, Levon
Ter-Petrossian and Robert Kocharian will be invited to share their
opinions, if necessary.

Asked whether the NA ad hoc Committee will cooperate with the civil
committee investigating the March 1 events and provide them the
official data at hand, Safarian said indignantly, "I think only one
committee should study the events. Let them join efforts with us. We
must have one document and not ten. The society mustn’t be divided
into ten teams. The Council of Europe will not approve of it."

Safarian confessed that the Committee mainly works for the CoE and
not for the society or for the revelation of the truth.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress