Events in Yerevan cast shadow on durability of Armenian democracy,
Matthew Beyza thinks
2008-03-15 17:51:00
ArmInfo. Latest events in Yerevan cast shadow on durability of Armenian
democracy, American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza said
in an interview with Voice of America.
When commenting on disorders in Yerevan and introduction of the state
of emergency, Bryza said what happened in Armenia is a tragedy as
people died. It is a serious blow at democracy and may be watched as
revolution or a serious public collision. Presidential election came to
the line of a normal process and it does not matter how we shall call
them, Bryza said and added that the most important is that Armenia and
America have to work together and progressive development of democracy
should be provided for it. Asked what should be done to rise the role
of the USA in the South Caucasus region, in particular in Armenia,
Bryza replied that Armenia has always had close relations with Russia.
Russian companies invested much in Armenia though it is not so much
important. The most important is devotion of Armenia and America to
strategic values and interests, the most important of which is
democracy. Armenia was quite successful in democracy, for this reason
it was let to take part in Millennium Challenges American programme.
But the latest events cast shadow on durability of the Armenian
democracy. We call on the Armenian government to restore freedom of
press, to cancel the state of emergency and to start a wide-scaled
dialogue with the society, the American diplomat said.