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FIRST TERM EVALUATION: SARGSYAN ADMINISTRATION GIVEN 'POOR MARK' AS U.S. STEPS UP CRITICISM OF ARMENIA
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/45514/armenia_united_states_department_of_state_report_h uman_rights_violations
ANALYSIS | 22.04.13 | 10:52
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The U.S. State Department has issued its annual report on human
rights, in which it makes quite a harsh assessment of the situation
in Armenia. In addition to a number of violations of human rights and
minority rights, the report also points to government corruption at
all levels, the limited right of citizens to change their government
and the low level of transparency in government.
In particular, the report notes that "flaws in the conduct of May 6
legislative elections included the misuse of government resources
to support the ruling party, credible allegations of vote buying,
deficiencies in the complaints and appeals process, and continued
shortcomings in the electoral code despite improvements."
Armenia has not yet officially reacted to the report of the U.S. State
Department, but, as a rule, its reaction is sluggish and untargeted as
the report is not legally binding, but is simply a statement of fact.
Still, Armenian officials acknowledge that these reports become the
basis for decisions on the provision of grants, such as, for example,
as part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Local experts have already evaluated the report as quite harsh, noting
that such assessments could amount to political pressure on President
Serzh Sargsyan. The United States and Europe expect Sargsyan to carry
out specific political reforms, liberalize the economy and further the
country's democratization, and the report is evaluated by some as an
'unsatisfactory mark' to Sargsyan for his first term, and possibly a
'stimulus' to work harder in the second term.
U.S. President Barack Obama was one of the first to congratulate
Sargsyan on his locally disputed win in the presidential election
in February. Moreover, Washington has openly stated its intention to
strengthen its presence in Armenia and become a partner on a par with
Russia. "No country can afford to be dependent on only one partner,"
said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern on one occasion.
The American envoy is conducting quite an active 'internal' policy
in Armenia. First, he actively lobbies the entry of a large French
retailer, Carrefour, into the Armenian market. Economic experts say
this is being done to break the monopoly on imports of essential goods
being factually held in Armenia by a tycoon and lawmaker affiliated
with the ruling party. Ambassador Heffern also stated recently that
Armenia should 'liberalize the sky': he noted that the high prices
of air tickets and poor airline service prevent the development of
tourism and exports in Armenia. Armenia's national air carrier Armavia
filed for bankruptcy on April 1. It is not known yet whether Armenia
will choose to have another private company as its next national air
carrier or this company will also have government participation.
Several weeks ago Heffern also made a strong statement in connection
with the case of Vartan Oskanian, a former foreign minister and
current lawmaker who was stripped of his parliamentary immunity and
charged with money laundering last year.
By the way, the latest State Department report refers to this case as
well. It, in particular, says: "The National Security Service opened an
investigation of the former head of the Civilitas Foundation and former
foreign minister Vardan Oskanian on suspicion of money laundering,
a day after Oskanian's party, Prosperous Armenia, announced its
decision not to join the ruling coalition."
The report also mentions the former minister of nature protection. "On
September 6, a foreign court fined Vardan Ayvazyan, a member of the
National Assembly and chair of its Standing Committee on Economic
Affairs, $37.5 million for demanding a bribe from the Global Gold
Mining Company when he was minister of the environment. At year's end
Ayvazyan remained in his National Assembly posts, and no investigation
was launched into the reported corruption."
In December 2012, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, accompanied
by Ambassador Heffern, toured the United States, where he reportedly
reached a number of important agreements on American investments in
the sphere of high technologies in Armenia. Over the past few months,
however, no practical steps have been made. Sargsyan was reappointed
prime minister on April 19. It is remarkable that the Armenian prime
minister's reappointment coincided in time with the publication of
the U.S. Department of State report that has references to government
corruption.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/45514/armenia_united_states_department_of_state_report_h uman_rights_violations
ANALYSIS | 22.04.13 | 10:52
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The U.S. State Department has issued its annual report on human
rights, in which it makes quite a harsh assessment of the situation
in Armenia. In addition to a number of violations of human rights and
minority rights, the report also points to government corruption at
all levels, the limited right of citizens to change their government
and the low level of transparency in government.
In particular, the report notes that "flaws in the conduct of May 6
legislative elections included the misuse of government resources
to support the ruling party, credible allegations of vote buying,
deficiencies in the complaints and appeals process, and continued
shortcomings in the electoral code despite improvements."
Armenia has not yet officially reacted to the report of the U.S. State
Department, but, as a rule, its reaction is sluggish and untargeted as
the report is not legally binding, but is simply a statement of fact.
Still, Armenian officials acknowledge that these reports become the
basis for decisions on the provision of grants, such as, for example,
as part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Local experts have already evaluated the report as quite harsh, noting
that such assessments could amount to political pressure on President
Serzh Sargsyan. The United States and Europe expect Sargsyan to carry
out specific political reforms, liberalize the economy and further the
country's democratization, and the report is evaluated by some as an
'unsatisfactory mark' to Sargsyan for his first term, and possibly a
'stimulus' to work harder in the second term.
U.S. President Barack Obama was one of the first to congratulate
Sargsyan on his locally disputed win in the presidential election
in February. Moreover, Washington has openly stated its intention to
strengthen its presence in Armenia and become a partner on a par with
Russia. "No country can afford to be dependent on only one partner,"
said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern on one occasion.
The American envoy is conducting quite an active 'internal' policy
in Armenia. First, he actively lobbies the entry of a large French
retailer, Carrefour, into the Armenian market. Economic experts say
this is being done to break the monopoly on imports of essential goods
being factually held in Armenia by a tycoon and lawmaker affiliated
with the ruling party. Ambassador Heffern also stated recently that
Armenia should 'liberalize the sky': he noted that the high prices
of air tickets and poor airline service prevent the development of
tourism and exports in Armenia. Armenia's national air carrier Armavia
filed for bankruptcy on April 1. It is not known yet whether Armenia
will choose to have another private company as its next national air
carrier or this company will also have government participation.
Several weeks ago Heffern also made a strong statement in connection
with the case of Vartan Oskanian, a former foreign minister and
current lawmaker who was stripped of his parliamentary immunity and
charged with money laundering last year.
By the way, the latest State Department report refers to this case as
well. It, in particular, says: "The National Security Service opened an
investigation of the former head of the Civilitas Foundation and former
foreign minister Vardan Oskanian on suspicion of money laundering,
a day after Oskanian's party, Prosperous Armenia, announced its
decision not to join the ruling coalition."
The report also mentions the former minister of nature protection. "On
September 6, a foreign court fined Vardan Ayvazyan, a member of the
National Assembly and chair of its Standing Committee on Economic
Affairs, $37.5 million for demanding a bribe from the Global Gold
Mining Company when he was minister of the environment. At year's end
Ayvazyan remained in his National Assembly posts, and no investigation
was launched into the reported corruption."
In December 2012, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, accompanied
by Ambassador Heffern, toured the United States, where he reportedly
reached a number of important agreements on American investments in
the sphere of high technologies in Armenia. Over the past few months,
however, no practical steps have been made. Sargsyan was reappointed
prime minister on April 19. It is remarkable that the Armenian prime
minister's reappointment coincided in time with the publication of
the U.S. Department of State report that has references to government
corruption.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress