WE HAVEN’T COME TO ARMENIA TO DISTRIBUTE REWARDS: FIDH PRESIDENT SOUHAYR BELHASSEN

Tert.am
13:39 ~U 06.04.10

The three-day International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Forum,
entitled "JUSTICE: New Challenges – the Right to an Effective Remedy
before an Independent Tribunal," kicked off in Yerevan today.

Prior to the start of the Forum, FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen and
Executive Director Antoine Bernard met with journalists and stressed
that the Forum, within the framework of the 37th FIDH Congress, is
taking place in the region for the first time, adding that progress
has been registered in Armenia in the area of protecting human rights.

"After March 1, there were 10 victims in Armenia, and there were
individuals whose charges were presented based on police testimonies.

While all journalists who are attempting to present the truth are
under threat," said Belhassen.

"I haven’t come [here] only to shake the hands of officials. I said so
yesterday, when I was meeting family members of March 1 victims. And no
human being, no mother or father, after the things I heard yesterday,
can remain heartless and not attempt to take steps in order to resolve
these issues," said the FIDH president.

Belhassen reminded Armenia’s governing authorities that everything
must be done to uncover those incidents. "Of course, the suffering
is everlasting, but we must attempt to ease it. And of course, those
crimes musn’t remain unpunished; everything must be done to uncover
them," she said.

Turning her attention to the issue of political prisoners, Belhassen
said that FIDH would do everything possible to free them. "We
haven’t come to Armenia to distribute rewards to some people. All
those crimes must be uncovered and those guilty must be punished,"
she said, noting that FIDH leaders have met with the family members
of political prisoners.

Belhassen also met with first president of the Republic of Armenia,
Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrossian. "He has much
hope for our visit. Both for him and for us, the primary issue is
political prisoners’ freedom," she said.