ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER GETS ACQUAINTED WITH THE WORK OF THE PARIAMENTARY AD HOC COMMISSION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly speaker
Hovik Abrahamian met today on his initiative with the members of the
parliamentary ad hoc commission set up for the inquiry into March
1-2 events in Yerevan to get acquainted with the carried out work
and issues the commission is facing.

The chairman of the commission Samvel Nikoyan noted that they have
many expectations from the National Assembly, speaker and political
forces. He noted that during these months each member of the commission
felt on his/her skin the heavy burden and even that helpless situation
in which they appeared from all the sides – blows from each side,
criticism, negative attitude. He thanked his partners for "standing
above everything".

Referring to the main activity of the commission, he informed that
they have singled out the March 1 morning events and events which
took place near the French embassy.

"We have all the necessary documents connected with March 1 morning
events, we have information and the commission in that respect is
ready to present its approaches but as far as a fact finding group is
going to be created the commission found it purposeful to wait in any
case as it is possible that as a result of the activity of the group
a fact will be disclosed and a concern may raise that the commission
omitted that fact on purpose," Nikoyan clarified.

According to him, there are enough facts connected with the events
near the French embassy and at present one of the main issues of
the commission is to study the circumstances of the death of ten
people. S. Nikoyan said that even the investigative bodies do not
have answers to many questions.

S. Nikoyan assured that the commission will continue acting publicly
as "our word will be directed to our public and our goal is that
our report be accepted by the majority of the people." He also
informed that the commission created task groups which must study
the circumstances of each case of death. Members of the commission
also expressed their viewpoints connected with the works.

Summing up the meeting, the NA speaker noted that March 1-2 events more
negatively affected on the authorities. He underscored the disclosing
of the truth. "Starting with the president, we all want to find out
the truth and present it to the public," Hovik Abrahamian said adding
that he is ready to support the commission within his possibiities.