ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS AND ZHARANGUTIUN TO TAKE PART IN WORK OF EXPERTS’ FACT-FINDING GROUP FORMED ON MARCH 1 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 3, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The Order of Creation of Experts’
Fact-finding Group and Organization of Its Activity eatablished by
RA President’s October 23 order does not meet Armenian society’s
and Council of Europe’s requirement on carrying out an independent,
reliable, and transparent investigation of the March 1 events, as well
as contradicts the RA legislation. This was mentioned in the joint
statement of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and Zharangutiun
(Heritage) party that was publicized at the November 1 press conference
by Arman Musinian, an ANC representative, the Spokesperson for first
RA President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

According to the statement, in particular, RA President’s commissions
were exceeded, investigation’s independence, transparency, and
reliability are not ensured, as no international experts by the
status of a full member are involved in the group, and the group is
"de jure" within the jurisdiction of the National Assembly Ad-hoc
Committee. Besides, as A. Musinian mentioned, the fact-finding group
is deprived of the power to invite persons formerly taking high posts,
then retired to its sittings on the basis of compulsory appearance
and giving explanations.

Nevertheless, in consideration of the significance of complete
disclosure of the March 1 events and calling to liability those
guilty and considering the fact-finding group as means of revealing
that truth, ANC and Zharangutiun are ready to take part in group’s
work: Andranik Kocharian will represent ANC and lawyer Seda Safarian
Zharangutiun in the group.

A. Kocharian earlier took the post of the RA Deputy Minister of
Internal Affairs, then First Deputy Minister, was RA government’s
Plenipotentiary in the Shirak region, in 1995-1999 was NA deputy. He
has been a member of the Society Against Terrorism NGO Board since
2000. S. Safarian is a member of the Chamber of Lawyers, an accredited
lawyer of the Cassation Court.

At the same time A. Musinian said that unless the legal bases of
fact-finding group’s activity meet the above mentioned requirements
in a one-month period, ANC and Zharangutiun will reconsider the
expediency of taking part in group’s work.