THE PRINCIPAL TOOL OF REVEALING THE TRUTH
S. Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Oct 2008
Armenia

Whether the parliamentary opposition (represented by the ‘Heritage’
faction) and the pro-Levon public (represented by the ‘congressmen’)
are making attempts to confess from the outset that they refuse to
cooperate with the authorities in the frameworks of the fact-finding
group?

DAVID HAROUTYUNYAN, Head of the NA Committee on State and Legal
Affairs and leader of the Armenian delegation in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), presents his comments in
response to the questions of "Hayots Ashkharh".

"Making predictions is, in general, an ungrateful job. Especially
with regard to the issue whether the parliamentary opposition and
the leader of the extra-parliamentary opposition will send their
representatives to work in the fact-finding group.

Anyway, I think that the participation of the opposition will be very
important. Moreover, it is very essential for them to realize the
importance of their own participation in those activities. Especially
considering the fact that the international community anticipates
the opposition to send its representatives.

The group that we now have was set up as a result of very active
and intensive discussions in which we also involved international
experts who are highly experienced in the activities of the formation
of similar structures. And they all definitely hold the viewpoint
that the independent fact-finding structure is the principal tool
for revealing the truth.

As to what results this structure will attain and what facts it will
eventually submit to the committee depends on the process. Refusing
to participate in the activities of the committee from now on is the
same as to announce that they do not agree to its opinion from the
outset, regardless the fact what that opinion will be. Such approach
is ineffective. But as I already said, I do hope that the opposition
will eventually have its participation in the activities of the group."

"Should, nonetheless, the radical opposition again guide itself by
the tactics of boycott, won’t the activity of the fact-finding group
become an end in itself?"

"Be it as it may, the group has to be set up. It cannot be doomed to
idleness from now on. I am very happy that the Human Rights Defender
is also going to be involved in its activities. I consider this a
very important factor.

Regardless everything, I consider the establishment of the fact-finding
group useful, and I am sure that its activities will be effective."