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PARLIAMENT DEBATES THE ISSUE OF AMNESTY
National Assembly
http://www.parliament.am/news.php?cat_id=2&NewsID=4590&year=2011&month=05&d ay=25&lang=eng
www.parliament.am
May 26 2011
Armenia
The National Assembly at May 25 sitting passes more than one dozen
agenda issues presented on the previous day and turned to the debate
of the proposal of the President of the Republic on Amnesty.
Meanwhile in the deputies' name the NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
welcomed the students and teachers of Gyumri N 7 secondary school,
who visited the legislative body within the Open Lesson framework
The Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan submitted to the deputies
the NA draft decision on Announcing Amnesty on the Occasion of the
20th Anniversary of the Independence Declaration of the Republic of
Armenia in a special order. The Minister noted that the Amnesty is a
manifestation of good will of the President of the Republic, a humane
step, and it should be perceived as a new warrant of understanding
responsibility. The key speaker said that, as a result of amnesty,
396 defendants will be released, it will be partially spread on the
measure of punishment of 379 persons. These figures will still be
changed, in case of compensation of caused material damage the Amnesty
will be also applied on 348 persons, as well as, involving those being
under preliminary detention, their number will be increased by 20%.
To recap, during the history of the newly independent Armenia this was
the 9th amnesty and with its volumes and involvement of the articles
it differs from the previous ones, in particular, from the amnesty
applied in 2009. The Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs
of the parliament debated the proposal of Amnesty by the President,
endorsing it. The Committee Chairman said that the draft resolution
was reviewed based on the voiced proposals.
This decision of the amnesty will relate to the persons, who committed
crime until May 1 of this year, and the demands of the decision will
be carried until September 21.
The NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan gave an extraordinary speech on the
proposal of the Amnesty.
"Dear deputies As Speaker of the National Assembly I highly assess the
proposal of the President of the Republic of Armenia on 'Announcing
Amnesty on the 20th Anniversary of RA Independence Declaration,'
which in my opinion, is an expected and completely justified
step. This is the 9th amnesty during the history of the newly
independent Armenia, but it will be an unprecedented amnesty, which
will be the first one with respect to its use, framework of influence,
volume and manifestation, and it is both of humanitarian and political
importance on the inner-political field and public atmosphere. On this
occasion our political assessment is unequivocally positive, and we
should welcome from the view that the state displays its compassion,
why not, its humanitarian attitude towards the so-called 'mistaken
citizens,' as the amnesty can also serve one very important goal,
for facilitating the tension caused in the society and creating a
basis of cooperation. In general, from the view of humanism, as well
as moral and political view, we highlight and welcome what may be said
is inclined to easing the tension accumulated in the country and boost
the formation of the atmosphere of tolerance, solidarity and unity.
It's known that in many countries on the occasion of state holidays
or important events, the presidents of those countries direct
their glances to the persons being in prison as a humanitarian
attitude. On this occasion, first, I want to stress that there are
no time limitations for such inner-political decisions. They should
be used, if necessary, which today, really exists, and then it will
also be an instructive step, humanitarian display, educative for the
people, who being in prison could invest their forces in future for
the welfare of our country, our statehood.
I am sure that the Amnesty proposed by the President of the Republic
of Armenia and being announced by RA National Assembly is true timely
implementing and completely basic step, by which an attempt is made by
making a certain turning point in the political agenda and political
culture finally overcome the inner political tension.
Dear deputies,
The representative of the President of the Republic of Armenia with
all details presented the main structure, direction of the Amnesty
act and the conditions, by which the Amnesty act is proposed to pass,
and a need to again touch upon it, I think there isn't.
There are countries, where the Amnesty is observed as a merely
political step aimed at the solution of numerous inner problems, and of
course, the easing of tension, bringing forth with it also solutions
of social, psychological and other problems. In our country the
Amnesty includes almost all the problems enumerated by me: political,
economic and social-psychological, but the most important thing is,
by my conviction, the formation of civil solidarity, without which
the ongoing reforms in the country will never become the people's
property. The Amnesty also supposes full or partial release of the
persons of certain category, and emanating from the punishment not
only by political and economic expediency, but also, first of all,
from the faith towards good and justice, as well as by social agreement
of such humanitarian step in democratic, legal state.
We together with you should be sure that everyone gets what he/she
deserves, and the committed crime is not characteristic to a man,
but in his/her life it is of unique nature or a result of chance
or some circumstances, then an opportunity will be given to those
persons to be rectified and stand on the right path.
But here I am obliged to remind that the Amnesty should not be confused
with non-substantiated leniency, which results in permissiveness,
impunity and bears new crimes. In reality, the Amnesty is a step
emanating from Christian faith, which in parallel with enhancement
of civil solidarity, tolerance, and mutual trust sends an impetus of
humanity to the whole society.
I would also like to touch upon the circumstance that this is the
unique case when all the wings of the power had tangible contribution
in specifying the arguments, principles and basic provisions of the
Amnesty and, finally in establishing the fact. With this a basis of
new culture of solving the serious issues together was laid among
us, which, I think will have a big role while solving all the future
problems.
Dear Colleagues,
Today, before voting let's for one moment think over the words of
the President of the Republic: 'Remember that we shall have work to
do, remember that we a mission of defending and creating. We have
no right to allow us to have a society in our country treating each
other in a hostile way, we have no right to have political forces,
which have an attitude, let's say, a unique hatred, and the quality
of their relations is animosity. We shall be able, eventually, lay
down a basis for the culture of political, civilized dialogue.' Let's
remember this exhortation, and take our step to unity. I am sure that
this is a step of displaying strong will and right thought.
I also call on the citizens being released under the influence of
the Amnesty Act to approach the humane attitude shown by the state
with all conscience to contribute their forces for the welfare of
our country, of our statehood, become full and exemplary members of
the society promoting the development of our country."
National Assembly
http://www.parliament.am/news.php?cat_id=2&NewsID=4590&year=2011&month=05&d ay=25&lang=eng
www.parliament.am
May 26 2011
Armenia
The National Assembly at May 25 sitting passes more than one dozen
agenda issues presented on the previous day and turned to the debate
of the proposal of the President of the Republic on Amnesty.
Meanwhile in the deputies' name the NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
welcomed the students and teachers of Gyumri N 7 secondary school,
who visited the legislative body within the Open Lesson framework
The Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan submitted to the deputies
the NA draft decision on Announcing Amnesty on the Occasion of the
20th Anniversary of the Independence Declaration of the Republic of
Armenia in a special order. The Minister noted that the Amnesty is a
manifestation of good will of the President of the Republic, a humane
step, and it should be perceived as a new warrant of understanding
responsibility. The key speaker said that, as a result of amnesty,
396 defendants will be released, it will be partially spread on the
measure of punishment of 379 persons. These figures will still be
changed, in case of compensation of caused material damage the Amnesty
will be also applied on 348 persons, as well as, involving those being
under preliminary detention, their number will be increased by 20%.
To recap, during the history of the newly independent Armenia this was
the 9th amnesty and with its volumes and involvement of the articles
it differs from the previous ones, in particular, from the amnesty
applied in 2009. The Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs
of the parliament debated the proposal of Amnesty by the President,
endorsing it. The Committee Chairman said that the draft resolution
was reviewed based on the voiced proposals.
This decision of the amnesty will relate to the persons, who committed
crime until May 1 of this year, and the demands of the decision will
be carried until September 21.
The NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan gave an extraordinary speech on the
proposal of the Amnesty.
"Dear deputies As Speaker of the National Assembly I highly assess the
proposal of the President of the Republic of Armenia on 'Announcing
Amnesty on the 20th Anniversary of RA Independence Declaration,'
which in my opinion, is an expected and completely justified
step. This is the 9th amnesty during the history of the newly
independent Armenia, but it will be an unprecedented amnesty, which
will be the first one with respect to its use, framework of influence,
volume and manifestation, and it is both of humanitarian and political
importance on the inner-political field and public atmosphere. On this
occasion our political assessment is unequivocally positive, and we
should welcome from the view that the state displays its compassion,
why not, its humanitarian attitude towards the so-called 'mistaken
citizens,' as the amnesty can also serve one very important goal,
for facilitating the tension caused in the society and creating a
basis of cooperation. In general, from the view of humanism, as well
as moral and political view, we highlight and welcome what may be said
is inclined to easing the tension accumulated in the country and boost
the formation of the atmosphere of tolerance, solidarity and unity.
It's known that in many countries on the occasion of state holidays
or important events, the presidents of those countries direct
their glances to the persons being in prison as a humanitarian
attitude. On this occasion, first, I want to stress that there are
no time limitations for such inner-political decisions. They should
be used, if necessary, which today, really exists, and then it will
also be an instructive step, humanitarian display, educative for the
people, who being in prison could invest their forces in future for
the welfare of our country, our statehood.
I am sure that the Amnesty proposed by the President of the Republic
of Armenia and being announced by RA National Assembly is true timely
implementing and completely basic step, by which an attempt is made by
making a certain turning point in the political agenda and political
culture finally overcome the inner political tension.
Dear deputies,
The representative of the President of the Republic of Armenia with
all details presented the main structure, direction of the Amnesty
act and the conditions, by which the Amnesty act is proposed to pass,
and a need to again touch upon it, I think there isn't.
There are countries, where the Amnesty is observed as a merely
political step aimed at the solution of numerous inner problems, and of
course, the easing of tension, bringing forth with it also solutions
of social, psychological and other problems. In our country the
Amnesty includes almost all the problems enumerated by me: political,
economic and social-psychological, but the most important thing is,
by my conviction, the formation of civil solidarity, without which
the ongoing reforms in the country will never become the people's
property. The Amnesty also supposes full or partial release of the
persons of certain category, and emanating from the punishment not
only by political and economic expediency, but also, first of all,
from the faith towards good and justice, as well as by social agreement
of such humanitarian step in democratic, legal state.
We together with you should be sure that everyone gets what he/she
deserves, and the committed crime is not characteristic to a man,
but in his/her life it is of unique nature or a result of chance
or some circumstances, then an opportunity will be given to those
persons to be rectified and stand on the right path.
But here I am obliged to remind that the Amnesty should not be confused
with non-substantiated leniency, which results in permissiveness,
impunity and bears new crimes. In reality, the Amnesty is a step
emanating from Christian faith, which in parallel with enhancement
of civil solidarity, tolerance, and mutual trust sends an impetus of
humanity to the whole society.
I would also like to touch upon the circumstance that this is the
unique case when all the wings of the power had tangible contribution
in specifying the arguments, principles and basic provisions of the
Amnesty and, finally in establishing the fact. With this a basis of
new culture of solving the serious issues together was laid among
us, which, I think will have a big role while solving all the future
problems.
Dear Colleagues,
Today, before voting let's for one moment think over the words of
the President of the Republic: 'Remember that we shall have work to
do, remember that we a mission of defending and creating. We have
no right to allow us to have a society in our country treating each
other in a hostile way, we have no right to have political forces,
which have an attitude, let's say, a unique hatred, and the quality
of their relations is animosity. We shall be able, eventually, lay
down a basis for the culture of political, civilized dialogue.' Let's
remember this exhortation, and take our step to unity. I am sure that
this is a step of displaying strong will and right thought.
I also call on the citizens being released under the influence of
the Amnesty Act to approach the humane attitude shown by the state
with all conscience to contribute their forces for the welfare of
our country, of our statehood, become full and exemplary members of
the society promoting the development of our country."