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EU URGES ARMENIA TO INQUIRE INTO MURDERS OF MARCH 1 2008, FIGHT CORRUPTION, AND REFORM JUDICIAL SYSTEM
ARMINFO
Thursday, March 21, 11:30
Stefan Fule European Commissioner for Enlargement Policy declared in
the European Parliament on March 20 that despite relatively transparent
parliamentary elections in 2012 and presidential election in 2013,
serious efforts to improve the situation with human rights and
freedoms, the Armenian authorities need to make progress on other
key recommendation of the ENP, RFE/RL Armenia Service reports.
The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the
annual "neighbourhood package", consisting of a joint communication
("Towards a Stronger Partnership") making an assessment of the ENP
implementation in 2012, a report on the "Partnership for Democracy and
Shared prosperity" with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership
progress report, 12 country reports (on developments in 2012 and with
a set of recommendations for the future), including one on Armenia, and
a statistical annex. The ENP Country Progress Report 2012 - Armenia in
particular says: "There was intensified EU-Armenia political dialogue
in 2012.
Significant progress was registered in negotiations of an EU-Armenia
Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Area. Armenia continued to implement sound macro-economic policies
and structural reforms. It further progressed also towards meeting
the objectives of the Action Plan in the area of poverty reduction
and social cohesion. While 2012 Parliamentary election and February
2013 Presidential election was generally transparent and there
was a serious effort to address issues related to human rights and
fundamental freedoms, further work needs to be done, especially in the
implementation and enforcement of legislation. Armenia addressed some
of the key recommendations contained in the last year's ENP progress
report. It prepared a roadmap to improve the electoral process,
adopted a National Human Rights Strategy and took some measures to
fight corruption, to reform the judiciary and public administration,
and to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation to the EU
acquis. Progress is needed also on other key recommendations. On the
basis of this year's report and with a view to sustained implementation
of the ENP Action Plan in 2013,1 Armenia is invited to: Further address
the shortcomings identified by the OSCE/ODIHR concerning the May 2012
parliamentary elections and February 2013 presidential elections,
by implementing all OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, including changes to
the legislative framework after the presidential elections. Fully
investigate the deaths that occurred during clashes following the
March 2008 presidential elections and the allegations of ill-treatment
in police custody and violation of due process. Step up efforts with
Azerbaijan to reach agreement on the Madrid Principles, in accordance
with the commitments made by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
within the Minsk Group. Ensure unimpeded access to representatives
of the EU to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of
conflict transformation activities in full complementarity with the
Minsk Group activities.
Promote an environment conducive to progress in conflict settlement,
encourage and support related peace- building activities.
Ensure implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy, formulate,
adopt and implement the related Action Plan. Adopt amendments to the
legislation on broadcasting in compliance with the recommendations
of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and ensure pluralism in
the broadcasting media. Finalize the draft law on Conscience and
Religious Freedoms, in line with international standards, as well
as the legislation on alternative civilian service, in conformity
with Venice Commission and OSCE recommendations. Adopt comprehensive
anti-discrimination legislation, including further steps leading to the
harmonization of legislation with the EU acquis in the areas of gender
equality and non-discrimination. Intensify the prevention of and the
fight against corruption, including implementation of laws adopted in
2012 and reinforcement of capacities, independence and transparency
of the State Commission on the Ethics of High-Ranking Officials.
Strengthen the implementation of governance reforms, including measures
to reform the law enforcement and judicial sectors (especially to
increase public trust in and the independence of the judiciary, improve
the training of judges and review the code of criminal procedure).
Continue the reform of public administration, in particular through
strengthening merit-based career and pay paths in the civil service,
strengthening institutional capacity of local governments and
continuing with reform of the public finance management sphere.
Continue to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation
to the EU acquis in trade and trade- related areas, in parallel to
the ongoing negotiations on a DCFTA, in particular in the areas of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade,
Intellectual Property Rights and Customs. Enhance efforts to provide
for a competitive economic environment, including through improvements
in contract enforcement, ease of paying taxes and trading across
borders. Work towards the earliest possible closure of the Medzamor
nuclear power plant and adopt a detailed decommissioning plan for
this plant, taking into account the result of the 2012 stress tests
report." EU officials say that the political and economic assistance
of the Armenian Government from Brussels depend on fulfillment of
the above recommendations and the future bilateral relations.
From: Baghdasarian
ARMINFO
Thursday, March 21, 11:30
Stefan Fule European Commissioner for Enlargement Policy declared in
the European Parliament on March 20 that despite relatively transparent
parliamentary elections in 2012 and presidential election in 2013,
serious efforts to improve the situation with human rights and
freedoms, the Armenian authorities need to make progress on other
key recommendation of the ENP, RFE/RL Armenia Service reports.
The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the
annual "neighbourhood package", consisting of a joint communication
("Towards a Stronger Partnership") making an assessment of the ENP
implementation in 2012, a report on the "Partnership for Democracy and
Shared prosperity" with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership
progress report, 12 country reports (on developments in 2012 and with
a set of recommendations for the future), including one on Armenia, and
a statistical annex. The ENP Country Progress Report 2012 - Armenia in
particular says: "There was intensified EU-Armenia political dialogue
in 2012.
Significant progress was registered in negotiations of an EU-Armenia
Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Area. Armenia continued to implement sound macro-economic policies
and structural reforms. It further progressed also towards meeting
the objectives of the Action Plan in the area of poverty reduction
and social cohesion. While 2012 Parliamentary election and February
2013 Presidential election was generally transparent and there
was a serious effort to address issues related to human rights and
fundamental freedoms, further work needs to be done, especially in the
implementation and enforcement of legislation. Armenia addressed some
of the key recommendations contained in the last year's ENP progress
report. It prepared a roadmap to improve the electoral process,
adopted a National Human Rights Strategy and took some measures to
fight corruption, to reform the judiciary and public administration,
and to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation to the EU
acquis. Progress is needed also on other key recommendations. On the
basis of this year's report and with a view to sustained implementation
of the ENP Action Plan in 2013,1 Armenia is invited to: Further address
the shortcomings identified by the OSCE/ODIHR concerning the May 2012
parliamentary elections and February 2013 presidential elections,
by implementing all OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, including changes to
the legislative framework after the presidential elections. Fully
investigate the deaths that occurred during clashes following the
March 2008 presidential elections and the allegations of ill-treatment
in police custody and violation of due process. Step up efforts with
Azerbaijan to reach agreement on the Madrid Principles, in accordance
with the commitments made by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
within the Minsk Group. Ensure unimpeded access to representatives
of the EU to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of
conflict transformation activities in full complementarity with the
Minsk Group activities.
Promote an environment conducive to progress in conflict settlement,
encourage and support related peace- building activities.
Ensure implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy, formulate,
adopt and implement the related Action Plan. Adopt amendments to the
legislation on broadcasting in compliance with the recommendations
of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and ensure pluralism in
the broadcasting media. Finalize the draft law on Conscience and
Religious Freedoms, in line with international standards, as well
as the legislation on alternative civilian service, in conformity
with Venice Commission and OSCE recommendations. Adopt comprehensive
anti-discrimination legislation, including further steps leading to the
harmonization of legislation with the EU acquis in the areas of gender
equality and non-discrimination. Intensify the prevention of and the
fight against corruption, including implementation of laws adopted in
2012 and reinforcement of capacities, independence and transparency
of the State Commission on the Ethics of High-Ranking Officials.
Strengthen the implementation of governance reforms, including measures
to reform the law enforcement and judicial sectors (especially to
increase public trust in and the independence of the judiciary, improve
the training of judges and review the code of criminal procedure).
Continue the reform of public administration, in particular through
strengthening merit-based career and pay paths in the civil service,
strengthening institutional capacity of local governments and
continuing with reform of the public finance management sphere.
Continue to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation
to the EU acquis in trade and trade- related areas, in parallel to
the ongoing negotiations on a DCFTA, in particular in the areas of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade,
Intellectual Property Rights and Customs. Enhance efforts to provide
for a competitive economic environment, including through improvements
in contract enforcement, ease of paying taxes and trading across
borders. Work towards the earliest possible closure of the Medzamor
nuclear power plant and adopt a detailed decommissioning plan for
this plant, taking into account the result of the 2012 stress tests
report." EU officials say that the political and economic assistance
of the Armenian Government from Brussels depend on fulfillment of
the above recommendations and the future bilateral relations.
From: Baghdasarian