“OCCURRENCES ARE RATHER VIOLENCE THAN TORTURE”
Support A1+!Armenia ranks among the 81 countries which still resort to torture, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Luzenberger said on June 27.
Today Raul de Luzenberger and France’s Ambassador to Armenia, Serzh Smessov told a press conference in connection with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The European Union annually earmarks 11-12 million euros (EUR) to combat tortures. The money is usually spent on training of law-enforcement bodies and policemen and on NGOs to render psychological assistance to people undergoing torture.
In reply to A1+'s question whether torturers are mainly policemen and law-enforcers, Raul de Luzenberger said: “Unfortunately, law-enforcers ill-treat people and employ torture all over the world.”
Asked whether the mass killings of 1915 can be considered as torture and whether Turkey is included in the 81 countries, Mr. Luzenberger said: “They are rather tragic events than tortures.”
He advised the presentees to make inquiries about Turkey from the “Amnesty International” Organisation which clearly defines the terms “torture” and “violence.” Then he added that many EU member countries are involved on the list.
Later on we learnt from the organisation’s website that Turkey is involved among the countries where torture is on the highest level.
A1+ asked the French Ambassador whether the March 1 occurrences in front of the French Embassy can be considered torture. Serzh Smessov said in reply: “We really feel sorry about the occurrences but they cannot be enrolled in the category of torture.”
