Ombudsman: democracy can’t develop if oligarchy prevails

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armen Harutyunyan, the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, was in Brussels from November 15 to November 18, 2010, to hold meetings in European institutions.

The visit was organized by AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Europe.

During his visit, the ombudsman met with Milan Cabrnoch, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; Heidi Hautala, Chair of EP Subcommittee on Human Rights; Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus as well as Gunnar Wiegand, European Commission’s Director for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Mr. Harutyunyan was the special guest of Mr. Cabrnoch at an open meeting with participation of a number of parliamentarians.

Touching upon the situation in Armenia, the Ombudsman noted that as long as oligarchy prevails in the republic and as long as economic and political powers are intermingled, democracy cannot properly develop.

“In order to reinforce the country’s economic development institutional reforms, which are indispensable to manage the transition from oligarchy to capitalism, for securing respect for human rights and to invigorate civil society,” he said.

Mr Harutyunyan also spoke at a round table of experts convened jointly by AGBU Europe and European Friends of Armenia on November 16 and held a debate with the Armenian community in Brussels in the evening of the 16th. These events focused on the state of democracy and human rights in Armenia, particularly in the context of intensifying EU-Armenia relations, and on the role of the Human Rights Defender, AGBU Europe said in a press release.