ICG lays demands to Armenia and international community

PanARMENIAN.Net - The International Crisis Group has issued a report "Armenia: Picking up Pieces" which mentions that "Armenia's flawed presidential election, the subsequent lethal crackdown against a peaceful protest rally, the introduction of a state of emergency and extensive arrests of opposition supporters has brought the country to its deepest crisis since the war against Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh ended in 1994."



The situation deprives Serzh Sargsyan, scheduled to be inaugurated as president on 9 April 2008, of badly needed legitimacy and handicaps prospects for much needed democratic reform and resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict alike, according to the ICG.



"On 1 March 2008, police and security troops broke up a peaceful demonstration that had been going on continuously in Yerevan's Liberty Square to protest the announced official result of the 19 February presidential election. Clashes with demonstrators intensified later in the day, and the violence, involving firearms, arson and looting, left seven civilians and one police officer dead. More than 450 people were reportedly injured, including several dozen police and troops," the report says.



"Armenia needs to address the electoral violence as well as more fundamental questions regarding the country's governance. If the incoming presidency takes the right course, the EU and the U.S. need to help foster reconciliation and deeper institutional reform. Their reaction to the flawed election and lethal crack-down, however, has been inadequate. The international community needs to send a stronger message to ensure that Armenia remains a democratic state, with a functional opposition that does not live in fear and where basic human rights, including the right to assembly and expression, are guaranteed."



"To avoid a crisis of legitimacy and the concomitant political instability, the Armenian authorities should:



Release persons detained due to their political activity and cease arrests and threats against the opposition, including against the runner-up in the 19 February election, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian;



Authorise an independent investigation, with international participation, into the 1 March violence and follow through on the pledge to punish policemen who illegally used weapons against civilians;



Revoke the amendments to the law on freedom of assembly adopted during the emergency rule and allow peaceful protests in locations where they will not cause a threat to public order;



Lift remaining media restrictions and refrain from new restrictions on the media or access to the internet;



Investigate claims of violence and attacks against political party vote monitors at polling stations and initiate criminal proceedings against perpetrators and



Pursue a credible dialogue process with the opposition in an effort to lower political tensions."



"If the government does not take credible steps to implement the measures recommended above and if arrests of opposition members continue, the EU and the U.S. should suspend foreign aid; the Council of Europe should consider suspending Armenia's membership; the U.S., EU and EU member states should consider, especially if there is more violence, initiating a diplomatic embargo on visits by President Sargsyan and senior officials of the security services," the report says