THE FACT-FINDING GROUP TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS FROM NOVEMBER 4
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
25 Oct 2008
Armenia

The Only Thing Left To Do Is To Clarify The Number Of The Members

As you know on October 23 President Serge Sargsyan signed a decree on
the procedure of the establishment and organization of the activity
of the fact-finding group.

The four coalition parties will come to a joint decision on their
two members

Head of "Orinats Yerkir" faction Heghine Bisharyan said: "Political
balance is maintained in the structure of the fact-finding group, and
the inclusion of at least one person representing the Human Rights
Defender will only add to the trust towards the before mentioned
structure set up by the decree of the President, especially because
all the five members of the committee must be skillful lawyers and
apolitilical persons. It is a serious guarantee for the expert group
to realize effective fact-finding activity and to help give right
assessments to March 1 developments.

In principle it is not important who will represent coalition in this
group – the candidate nominated by "Orinats Yerkir" or any other
coalition party. The most important thing is that this person must
be skillful and enjoy trust. Coalition will hold discussions to take
decision regarding these two members."

Secretary of ARFD faction Artashes Shahbazyan, who is also a member
of the NA Interim Committee recorded with satisfaction that finally
the fact-finding group would be established. "Unlike the committee,
the group will implement a pure professional activity, it will not
have any political task, it will not be engaged in a public activity
and it will not draw any conclusions. Specialists must be included in
the fact-finding group and I don’t attach great importance to which
political force will guide them.

There is nothing strange that the fact-finding group has been set
up by the decree of the President and not by the decision of the
Parliament. This means the fact-finding group won’t be under the
direct subordination of the NA Interim Committee.

Member of "Bargavach Hayastyan" faction and NA Interim Committee
Naira Zohrabyan expressed confidence saying: "Both pro-governmental
coalition, extra-parliamentary opposition, "Heritage" Party and the
representative of the Human Rights Defender will partake in the works
of the fact-finding group. This means the latter will really assist
the works of the committee.

If before the political opposition was dissatisfied that parity
will not be preserved in the group, at the moment the group is being
formed by their formula. I don’t think the opposition must have any
reservation."

Secretary of the Republican Faction, Chairman of NA Interim
Committee Samvel Nikoyan says though society won’t completely trust
any structure: "The format of setting up the fact-finding group will
essentially reduce the number of skeptics and the discontent. I don’t
think we have any problem in terms of the swift establishment of the
fact-finding group. And there are no reasons for the group to fail
in carrying out the task. That will be of an essential help for the
Interim Committee to effectively perform the recommendations received
from the Parliament.

Samvel Nikoyan says, had the fact-finding group been set up by the NA
decision and not the decree of the President, the facts revealed by
the group would be of mandatory significance for the committee. In
that case the fact-finding group would simply assist the works of
the NA Interim Committee.

The fact-finding group will have at least three members

Ter-Petrosyan’s Press Secretary Arman Musinyan gave laconic and
indefinite answers to our various questions: "We haven’t yet discussed
the issue of participating in the works of the fact-finding group.

Once we discuss it we will inform you about the results. At the moment
we are studying the represented document. After familiarizing ourselves
with the document we will answer your questions."

Instead the Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan confirmed that his
representative would definitely be represented in the fact-finding
group. So we can definitely say that on November 4 the fact-finding
group will be formed and will have at least one member represented
by the Human Rights defender and two members from coalition.

Armen Harutyunyan also introduced his stance. "I will definitely
participate in the works of the fact-finding group, because I attach
great importance to the function of this group and I’m sure lots of
issues will be solved. It’s worth mentioning that the fact-finding
group won’t be set up in contrast to the NA Interim Committee, on the
contrary it will help understand the reasons of the tragic events of
March 1 and learn the truth.

Non-participation in the works of this committee is unacceptable
for me. We have made a step, the necessity of which has been many
times underscored.

The group is set up by the principle of parity and can go far in
terms of its investigations. I attach great importance to the fact
that the special report represented by the Human Rights Defender
will be one of the documents on which the activity of the group is
based. All the before mentioned facts are in favor of participation
and we must welcome the initiative of the Country’s President.