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OSCE sends envoy to Armenia in bid to end unrest
Sun Mar 2, 2008 9:51am EST
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Europe's human rights and security watchdog sent
a special envoy to Armenia on Sunday in a bid to end the country's
worst unrest in a decade.
"I have sent my special envoy to try to bring both sides to the
negotiating table and to find a way out of this crisis through
political dialogue," the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) chairman, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva,
said in a statement.
The envoy, 68-year old diplomat Heikki Talvitie, is scheduled to
arrive in Yerevan on Sunday.
Eight people were killed and 33 police injured in Armenia's capital
during overnight protests as demonstrators took to the streets saying
the February 19 presidential vote was rigged.
The protests ended after the government declared a state of emergency
and mobilized the army.
OSCE chairman Kanerva condemned the use of force against demonstrators
and called for restraint.
"I urge the authorities to release those detained, and I again call
on the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue", he said.
"Everything should be done to avoid further casualties and any further
escalation of tension."
Talvitie intends to meet outgoing President Robert Kocharyan, outgoing
Prime Minister and president-elect Serzh Sarksyan, Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Ter-Petrosyan, who says he was cheated during last month's vote,
is under house arrest.
Talvitie worked as the European Union's Special Representative for
the South Caucasus from 2003 to 2006.
(Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Matthew Jones)
Sun Mar 2, 2008 9:51am EST
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Europe's human rights and security watchdog sent
a special envoy to Armenia on Sunday in a bid to end the country's
worst unrest in a decade.
"I have sent my special envoy to try to bring both sides to the
negotiating table and to find a way out of this crisis through
political dialogue," the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) chairman, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva,
said in a statement.
The envoy, 68-year old diplomat Heikki Talvitie, is scheduled to
arrive in Yerevan on Sunday.
Eight people were killed and 33 police injured in Armenia's capital
during overnight protests as demonstrators took to the streets saying
the February 19 presidential vote was rigged.
The protests ended after the government declared a state of emergency
and mobilized the army.
OSCE chairman Kanerva condemned the use of force against demonstrators
and called for restraint.
"I urge the authorities to release those detained, and I again call
on the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue", he said.
"Everything should be done to avoid further casualties and any further
escalation of tension."
Talvitie intends to meet outgoing President Robert Kocharyan, outgoing
Prime Minister and president-elect Serzh Sarksyan, Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Ter-Petrosyan, who says he was cheated during last month's vote,
is under house arrest.
Talvitie worked as the European Union's Special Representative for
the South Caucasus from 2003 to 2006.
(Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Matthew Jones)