REPORT
A1+
[09:12 pm] 18 February, 2009
In order to contribute to the monitoring of the implementation
of the EU-Armenia Action Plan in the field of human rights, the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Civil Society
Institute (CSI), the Foundation Against Violation of Law (FAVL) and
the Helsinki Committee of Armenia (HCA) wish to draw EU attention on
the following assessment and recommendations.
The EU and Armenia held their 9th joint Cooperation Council on 9
December 2008. In its press release the EU "noted Armenia’s progress
in the implementation of the ENP Action Plan", "agreed that there is
still room for further progress" and "underlined the importance of the
respect for the rule of law, democratic and pluralistic principles,
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as freedom
of expression and freedom of the media, as essential elements in the
bilateral dialogue."
Our organisations are deeply concerned by the absence of a precise
identification of key human rights concerns in Armenia despite the
preoccupying situation that has prevailed since the February 2008.
On 5 March 2008, the Council of the EU had expressed its "deep concern
about the situation in the Republic of Armenia after the presidential
elections", "condemned the acts of violence committed during the events
of 1 March, which resulted in the loss of life and numerous injuries"
and "called upon the Armenian authorities to release any citizens
detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and to lift
the state of emergency, which imposes restrictions on media freedom,
the freedom of assembly, and on political parties."
Our organisations wish to underline that 10 months later, the situation
remains extremely preoccupying. On 18 December 2008, the Monitoring
Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) recommended to "suspend the voting rights of the members of
the Armenian parliamentary delegation to the Assembly (…) until
the Armenian authorities clearly demonstrate their political will to
resolve the issue of persons detained in relation to the events of 1
and 2 March 2008, in line with its demands, as expressed in Resolutions
1609 (2008) and 1620 (2008). " In its session of 27 January 2009,
the Assembly decided not to suspend the voting rights of the members
of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to the Assembly, but decided
to remain seized of the matter and invited its Monitoring Committee
to propose any further action to be taken as required by the situation.
FIDH and its member and partner organisations in Armenia remain
preoccupied by the following issues:
The human rights situation following the 2008 Presidential Elections
and March 2008 events;
Political prisoners and 1st-of-March detainees, acts of repression
against representatives of the opposition;
Torture and ill-treatment;
Violations of the independence of the judiciary;
Violations of the right to free assembly;
Violations of freedom of speech and acts of repression against
journalists.
Our organisations urge the EU to ensure that these issues remain
key priorities within the framework of its political dialogue with
Armenia and that concrete steps are taken to implement recommendations
formulated to Armenia by the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN and
reach ENP Action Plan priorities. In particular, our organisations
call upon the EU to take into consideration the following assessment
and recommendations in the preparation of the ENP progress report on
Armenia and in view of the upcoming sub-committee meetings.