ACCORDING TO ANC, AUTHORITIES NOT INTERESTED IN HOLDING INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO MARCH 1 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 20, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National Congress
(ANC) and "Heritage" party on November 20 issued a joint statement
on the work of the fact-finding group of experts. The statement reads:

"On November 14 the Fact-finding group started its work. At the very
first sitting, the group made decisions based on consensus. By one
decision, Vahe Stepanian was elected the head of the Fact-finding
group, while by another decision, the group was to work in the Office
of the RA Ambudsman who expressed a willingness to ensure the necessary
office conditions for organizing efficiently the group’s work. Both
decisions were praiseworthy as they aimed to ensure the neutrality
of the activity of the fact-finding group and its independence from
political influence.

Despite the above mentioned facts, the presidential staff interfered
in the work of the fact-finding group, obliging that the building of
the National Assembly must be the place of work, without having an
authority (envisaged by a legal act) to do so.

Taking into account the fact that the presidential staff has illegally
interfered in the work of the Fact-finding group, as well as the fact
the the group has been forced to work at an institution where the
principles of not establishing the identity of a witness and keeping
the witnesses and experts from any influence are not ensured, it
becomes obvious that as a result of this, the security of Fact-finding
group’s work from possible pressure, therefore its efficiency in terms
of revealing the facts of the March 1 crime will considerably decline.

These actions of the authorities show once that they are not
interested in the fact-finding group’s holding an objective and
independent inquiry into the March 1 events. The Armenian National
Congress and "Heritage" party demand that the authorities give up
their attempts to put pressure on the fact-finding group and keep its
activity under control. We state once again that if this pressure and
attempts to hinder the group’s work continue, we will have to recall
our representatives".