ARMEN RUSTAMIAN CALLS FOR STOPPING COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES TO BRING ROBERT KOCHARIAN BEFORE HAGUE COURT

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

Armen Rustamian, a representative of the ARFD Armenian Supreme Body,
considers that the situation formed in the past months in Armenia
contains elements of public crisis. As he stated at the July 23 press
conference, its reasons are two, slowing down of country’s development
rates and post-electoral tension.

According to A. Rustamian, the authorities do their best to carry
out a political dialogue, but their efforts are not accepted by
the opposition.

"We are against that slogan "struggle-struggle," in general, we are
against unbridled struggle, idea of achieving power by all means,"
he said.

A. Rustamian said that the idea of holding special elections is
inadmissible for ARFD. "No issue will be solved through special
elections until the electoral system is matured in Armenia," he said.

Touching upon the issue of existence or non-existence of political
prisoners in Armenia, A. Rustamian said that PACE does not consider
those arrested by the March 1 case political prisoners. According
to him, the political part of that case should be separated from the
criminal one, which is very difficult. In any case, as he mentioned,
it is up to the proper instances to make a final decision.

A. Rustamian called the opposition for stopping the collection
of signatures with the demand of bringing former President Robert
Kocharian before Hague court. According to him, with that step the
opposition only plays into Azerbaijan’s hands.