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Press Release
EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd
March 14, 2008
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INDICATES CRISIS AGENDA FOR ARMENIA
The MEPs adopted a critical but concurrent urgent resolution
concerning the crisis in Armenia
Strasburg - France - The European Parliament adopted an urgent
resolution yesterday on the situation which prevails in Armenia since
the State of emergency was instituted after the presidential
elections of February 19th, 2008.
By this resolution, the European Parliament `expresses its concern at
recent developments that have taken place in Armenia, with the
violent police crackdown on opposition demonstrations'. The
Parliament `calls for a prompt, thorough, transparent, independent
and impartial investigation of the events' and `calls on the Council
and the Commission to offer EU assistance to the Armenian authorities
for such an investigation'.
The Commissioner Louis Michel intervened on behalf of the European
Commission and answered Parliament's requests by giving Armenia EU
assistance in the field of police and judiciary cooperation.
Referring to the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Commissioner
qualified the balance of Armenia as being `more and more positive'.
He also added that a third of the European cooperation budget granted
to Armenia is dedicated to reform its judicial system.
In an obvious show of appeasement, the resolution also calls on the
Armenian authorities to `lift the State of emergency, mitigated by a
presidential decree on 10 March 2008' and `take all measures
necessary to ensure the return to normality'. The European Parliament
also supports the EU special representatives and OSCE in their
efforts to `facilitate dialogue between the political forces and to
investigate the possibilities to resolve the political crisis in
Armenia'.
An amendment which was tabled by the EPP group (European Popular
Party- Christian Democrats) and adopted in plenary session by the
whole of the MEPs mentioned the difficult situation in the South
Caucasus because of the blockade imposed by Turkey, which `threatens
Armenia's economy and the regional stability'. Moreover, referring to
the recent attacks led by Azerbaijan thanks to the internal disrupted
situation in Armenia, the resolution regrets the loss of life during
the attacks and `calls on all sides to return to the negotiation
table'.
`We welcome the European Parliament's fair and balanced reaction
regarding the regrettable developments which occurred in Armenia.
This resolution proves that Europe has the sincere will to help
Armenia to overcome its current difficulties, and we think that, by
its repercussions in Armenia, it will be useful to reach the
objective', declared Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation.
`After 70 years of totalitarian regime, Armenia has been developing a
system of democracy for only 17 years. We are convinced that these
deplorable events must be seen in this context: a normal growth
crisis of this young Republic's evolution towards a State of Law. The
authorities and the opposition have to draw the right conclusions
from this crisis in order to work for a progressive and reinforced
democratisation', concluded Hilda Tchoboian.
EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd
March 14, 2008
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INDICATES CRISIS AGENDA FOR ARMENIA
The MEPs adopted a critical but concurrent urgent resolution
concerning the crisis in Armenia
Strasburg - France - The European Parliament adopted an urgent
resolution yesterday on the situation which prevails in Armenia since
the State of emergency was instituted after the presidential
elections of February 19th, 2008.
By this resolution, the European Parliament `expresses its concern at
recent developments that have taken place in Armenia, with the
violent police crackdown on opposition demonstrations'. The
Parliament `calls for a prompt, thorough, transparent, independent
and impartial investigation of the events' and `calls on the Council
and the Commission to offer EU assistance to the Armenian authorities
for such an investigation'.
The Commissioner Louis Michel intervened on behalf of the European
Commission and answered Parliament's requests by giving Armenia EU
assistance in the field of police and judiciary cooperation.
Referring to the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Commissioner
qualified the balance of Armenia as being `more and more positive'.
He also added that a third of the European cooperation budget granted
to Armenia is dedicated to reform its judicial system.
In an obvious show of appeasement, the resolution also calls on the
Armenian authorities to `lift the State of emergency, mitigated by a
presidential decree on 10 March 2008' and `take all measures
necessary to ensure the return to normality'. The European Parliament
also supports the EU special representatives and OSCE in their
efforts to `facilitate dialogue between the political forces and to
investigate the possibilities to resolve the political crisis in
Armenia'.
An amendment which was tabled by the EPP group (European Popular
Party- Christian Democrats) and adopted in plenary session by the
whole of the MEPs mentioned the difficult situation in the South
Caucasus because of the blockade imposed by Turkey, which `threatens
Armenia's economy and the regional stability'. Moreover, referring to
the recent attacks led by Azerbaijan thanks to the internal disrupted
situation in Armenia, the resolution regrets the loss of life during
the attacks and `calls on all sides to return to the negotiation
table'.
`We welcome the European Parliament's fair and balanced reaction
regarding the regrettable developments which occurred in Armenia.
This resolution proves that Europe has the sincere will to help
Armenia to overcome its current difficulties, and we think that, by
its repercussions in Armenia, it will be useful to reach the
objective', declared Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation.
`After 70 years of totalitarian regime, Armenia has been developing a
system of democracy for only 17 years. We are convinced that these
deplorable events must be seen in this context: a normal growth
crisis of this young Republic's evolution towards a State of Law. The
authorities and the opposition have to draw the right conclusions
from this crisis in order to work for a progressive and reinforced
democratisation', concluded Hilda Tchoboian.