INDEPENDENT OF THE EUROPEAN DEMANDS
Aztag Daily
Dec 19 2008
Lebanon
The recommendation of the European Council Parlimentarian Congress’
Observation Commission was harsh on Armenia. This is the truth and no
interpretation will lessen the gravity of the matter. In black and
white terms it was suggested that the European Council’s Congress
deprive Armenia of the right of vote. The general justifications
are the inner political turmoil, the failures recorded in the
democratization process or the insufficiency of the present efforts
to adapt to European standards.
It seems that the Observation Committee is putting the democratization
process of our country under spotlight. Rightly, this has triggered
a reaction in Armenia. Factually, Armenia is the only post-Soviet
country who’s being put in a situation to face this kind of a harsh
recommendation.
At the same time, it is also true that this is not a decision or
a verdict. It merely sets a timeline in a way for our country to
fulfill some demands made in a narrow margin. This European approach
of talking about deadlines is first and foremost a negative one. But
most of all it is a screaming proof of a double standard that the
Observation Commission committing.
It is not right to compare oneself with Azerbeijan. However, other
European observatory missions, which operate under the same value
system, have offered diametrically opposite evaluations concerning
the democratization processes of Armenia and Azerbeijan. In spite of
the fact that it has stressed on different occasions (and also on this
occasion, with a special emphasis) the necessity of not politicizing
the investigations opened in the aftermath of the March 1st events, the
Commission of the European Council itself is manifesting a practice of
the same nature. Otherwise, how could the adoption and implementation
of the double and multi-standards be explained?
Of course this remark shouldn’t be understood as a denial of any
failure our country could have had in the democratization process. But
when such a commission enters into a pre-punishment zone with our
country, that needs an explanation specially when "neighbour" countries
have recorded failures in the implementation of democratization and
election systems.
This approach is not only a European one. Our readers are aware of the
bargain that was made and is still being made on the stances related
to allocating or holding the American aid to Armenia in the parameters
of the "Millenium Challenges". In this respect today’s picture is
characteristic. The allocation of aids is in reality suspended.
Let’s return to the European environment. The demand made is the
general amnesty, the pardon or the removal of charges for the short
term detainees, all of which are in reality the same thing. In
the discussions of the European Council it has been noticed that
there’s the avoidance of the direct use of the term "political
prisoner". According to comments made in the media, there has been
a question about the relation of the two words.
By the way, we shouldn’t disregard the numeric picture of the
members of the commission and the members present for the vote of
the Armenian resolution. Of the overall eighty commission members,
fifteen have been present for the vote, many of whom have abstained
from voting. This numeric picture reluctantly reminds you of the UN
vote for the pro-Azerbeijan resolution.
The deadline assigned by the ultimatum is very near. Armenia must carry
out amendments. It is in the best interest of our country and us all.
The ultimatum issued by the commission, the double standard approach
and, going a little backwards, the American aid issue once again tell
us of the necessity for the Armenian authorities and the opposition
to develop the awareness of not letting the aggravation of their inner
strifes create the opportunity in the political spheres to talk to us
with ultimatums or to halt the implementation of inter-governmental
projects.
Amendments are needed without any delay, independent of the European
demands.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress