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U.S. Welcomes Dialogue on Political Reforms in Armenia

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  • U.S. Welcomes Dialogue on Political Reforms in Armenia

    06 May 2004

    U.S. Welcomes Dialogue on Political Reforms in Armenia
    Davidson calls on authorities to investigate assaults on political activists

    The United States welcomes the recent dialogue on political reforms between
    the Armenian government and opposition parties, and sees the new law on
    demonstrations and rallies passed by the National Assembly as a "step in the
    right direction" towards greater political freedom, U.S. diplomat Douglas
    Davidson told the OSCE Permanent Council May 6.

    Davidson also called on Armenian authorities to "fully investigate" recent
    assaults on political activists.

    Following are Davidson's remarks:

    (begin text)

    United States Mission to the OSCE
    Vienna
    http://osce.usmission.gov

    STATEMENT ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA

    As delivered by Deputy Representative Douglas Davidson to the Permanent
    Council

    May 6, 2004

    Mr. Chairman, the United States is pleased that Armenian parliamentarians
    from the governing coalition and opposition parties met on April 26 and 27.
    We encourage both sides to continue meeting and to work within the
    constitutional process to promote political reform in Armenia.

    The United States has long been concerned about the practice of
    administrative detention and the Soviet-era Code of Administrative Offenses
    still in force in Armenia.

    We note that the new law on Public Demonstrations, Gatherings and Rallies,
    passed by the National Assembly on April 28, is a step in the right
    direction. However, we encourage the government to work with the Council of
    Europe and other experts to further refine the law to bring it fully in line
    with international standards.

    We also look to the Armenian authorities to fully investigate recent
    assaults on political activists and we look forward to the swift and
    thorough resolution of these cases.

    Thank you very much.

    (end text)

    (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
    Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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