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THOMAS HAMMARBERG: ARMENIA IS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE, AND VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS UNFORGIVABLE
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am?shownews=1009975
Nov 24, 2008
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Thomas Hammarberg,
the Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human Rights, "the
last events in Georgia, discussion over Karabakh, and acivization
of relations with Turkey will have no impact on Council of Europe's
position on the March 1 events, as we deal with elementary human rights
in that issue. Armenia is a Council of Europe member, and violation
of human rights is unforgivable. He stated at the November 22 press
conference that he welcomes the creation of the fact-finding group in
Yerevan. According to him, it is very important that representatives
of various political forces are involved in the group, that they
are really independent and are experts. In T. Hammarberg's opinion,
all these three circumstances make group's work important.
At the same time, the High Commissioner stated that he is disposed
critically and it not satisfied with the condition of the imprisoned
people.
"I am concerned that people are in imprisonment for more than 8 months
without introducing exact proof that they are responsible for the
March 1 events."
He pointed to the shortcomings in the judicial process. In particular,
according to Hammarberg, there are cases when pressure is exerted on
witnesses. According to him, all judicial judgements are made on the
basis of policemen's evidence, who are themselves responsible for
the violent actions.
Hammarberg specially dwelt on issues regarding the "Case of the Seven",
that is, the organizers of the March 1 events. The High Commissioner
doubted whether there was a willingness to overthrow the power
by force. He said that he is going to study all materials of the
"Case of the Seven" and to get acquainted with the court resolution
before expressing a final opinion on the case. And if I reveal that
there is no sufficient proof for sending the case to the court, a
possibility to start discussions on existence of political prisoners
will be created. So far I have never witnessed blind evidence, on
the basis of which an independent court could accuse these people
of overthrowing the power by force," the Council of Europe High
Commissioner for Human Rights stated.
He said that he has already stated to the President and members
of government that he will be inexorable if it comes to making a
decision regarding Armenia by European structures. Thommas Hammarberg
reminded that PACE session will take place at the end of January, and
the issue of Armenia's fulfillment of demands of PACE resolutions is
on the agenda. He especially singled out two points. In particular,
whether an objective investigation of the March 1 events has been
launched and how the imprisoned people are treated in the imprisonment
places. "The institutions of the High Commissioner and PACE are two
structures independent of each other, nevertheless, what I will report
will have a considerable role in the formation of PACE conclusions."
According to him, the decision on using sanctions can be one of
the possible variants of making a decision by PACE, in particular,
depriving the Armenian delegation of the vote. At the same time
he emphasized that the final term for fulfillment of resolutions'
demands has not come today yet, and there is enough time for the
Armenian authorities to ensure progress in fulfillment of many
demands. According to his estimation, no progress has been reached
in fulfillment of PACE resolutions' demands so far.
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am?shownews=1009975
Nov 24, 2008
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Thomas Hammarberg,
the Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human Rights, "the
last events in Georgia, discussion over Karabakh, and acivization
of relations with Turkey will have no impact on Council of Europe's
position on the March 1 events, as we deal with elementary human rights
in that issue. Armenia is a Council of Europe member, and violation
of human rights is unforgivable. He stated at the November 22 press
conference that he welcomes the creation of the fact-finding group in
Yerevan. According to him, it is very important that representatives
of various political forces are involved in the group, that they
are really independent and are experts. In T. Hammarberg's opinion,
all these three circumstances make group's work important.
At the same time, the High Commissioner stated that he is disposed
critically and it not satisfied with the condition of the imprisoned
people.
"I am concerned that people are in imprisonment for more than 8 months
without introducing exact proof that they are responsible for the
March 1 events."
He pointed to the shortcomings in the judicial process. In particular,
according to Hammarberg, there are cases when pressure is exerted on
witnesses. According to him, all judicial judgements are made on the
basis of policemen's evidence, who are themselves responsible for
the violent actions.
Hammarberg specially dwelt on issues regarding the "Case of the Seven",
that is, the organizers of the March 1 events. The High Commissioner
doubted whether there was a willingness to overthrow the power
by force. He said that he is going to study all materials of the
"Case of the Seven" and to get acquainted with the court resolution
before expressing a final opinion on the case. And if I reveal that
there is no sufficient proof for sending the case to the court, a
possibility to start discussions on existence of political prisoners
will be created. So far I have never witnessed blind evidence, on
the basis of which an independent court could accuse these people
of overthrowing the power by force," the Council of Europe High
Commissioner for Human Rights stated.
He said that he has already stated to the President and members
of government that he will be inexorable if it comes to making a
decision regarding Armenia by European structures. Thommas Hammarberg
reminded that PACE session will take place at the end of January, and
the issue of Armenia's fulfillment of demands of PACE resolutions is
on the agenda. He especially singled out two points. In particular,
whether an objective investigation of the March 1 events has been
launched and how the imprisoned people are treated in the imprisonment
places. "The institutions of the High Commissioner and PACE are two
structures independent of each other, nevertheless, what I will report
will have a considerable role in the formation of PACE conclusions."
According to him, the decision on using sanctions can be one of
the possible variants of making a decision by PACE, in particular,
depriving the Armenian delegation of the vote. At the same time
he emphasized that the final term for fulfillment of resolutions'
demands has not come today yet, and there is enough time for the
Armenian authorities to ensure progress in fulfillment of many
demands. According to his estimation, no progress has been reached
in fulfillment of PACE resolutions' demands so far.