Levon Ter-Petrossian greets demonstrators
The vicinity of Armenia Marriott hotel was overcrowded today morning. Scores of people with photos of political prisoners and victims of the deadly clashes of March 1, 2008, gathered in front of the hotel which hosted a congress of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
On seeing foreign delegates the demonstrators cried out "Freedom to Political Prisoners." They were more elated after seeing Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrossian who had come to meet with Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy.
"The meeting was devoted to the EU-Armenia partnership. The parties referred to issues of bilateral interest including Karabakh conflict resolution, Armenian-Turkish relations, the state of human rights and political prisoners in Armenia," Levon Zurabian, coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said after the meeting.
Later Mr. Füle went up to the demonstrators and exchanged thoughts with them.
"The recent developments in the country show that FIDH delegates are seriously disposed towards Armenia's home situation. They promised to raise the issue worldwide and assist us. They came at the invitation of the Armenian authorities but spoke against their actions," said Aram Manukyan, member of Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh).
Remind that participants in the FIDH congress attended HAK's rally of April 6 and demanded an immediate release of the political prisoners.
