TOMAS HAMMARBERG ABOUT LAW IN ARMENIA
Support A1+!Today Speaker of the RA National Assembly Tigran Torossian received CoE Human Rights Commissioner Tomas Hammerberg.
The meeting also hosted Special Representative of EC General Secretary Boyana Urumova and Swede expert Yohan Hirshfeldt.
Greeting the guests Speaker Tigran Torossian introduced what had been done, attaching importance to bringing the “Law on holding meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations” into line with European standards. He noted that Armenia is resolute to fully investigate the events of March 1 and punish the guilty.
In his turn Mr. Hammerberg noted that PACE appreciates the changes made in cooperation with the EC Venice Committee. According to him the opposition leaders more complain of the way laws are interpreted rather than of laws themselves. Mr. Hammerberg also attached great importance to the impartial and reliable activity of the NA ad hoc commission investigating the 1 March events. The Human Rights Commissioner was especially concerned about the fact that opposition does not participate in the investigation process; moreover they are eager to form their own commission that would investigate the post-election developments.
In this respect Tigran Torossian noticed that the opposition is reluctant to cooperate with the authorities, declaring that the commission does not enjoy people’s confidence. “They are sending ultimatums instead, which contributes neither to dialogue, nor to the disclosure of the events,” he said. The Speaker also attached importance to the involvement of international experts in the commission activities, which will provide objectivity of investigation process and will instill confidence for the investigation results.
