COMMISSIONER HAMMARBERG AGAINST EMERGENCY MEASURES IN ARMENIA
"The State of Emergency should be lifted in Armenia and an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry initiated to clarify what actually happened during the clash between the police and opposition demonstrators in Yerevan, March 1," said Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg after accomplishing an official three-day visit to Armenia.
The Press Division of the Council of Europe reports that Hammarberg held discussions with the outgoing President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, the Prime Minister and newly-elected President Serge Sarkisian, the Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, as well as a number of other eminent governmental figures. The Commissioner held a separate meeting with ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian.
Commissioner Hammarberg visited places of detention and interviewed persons recently arrested. Furthermore, he visited hospitals and met policemen and civilians who had been injured during the violence on 1 March. He also met with the National Human Rights Defender (ombudsman), defence lawyers, representatives of the media, non-governmental organisations as well as foreign diplomats and representatives of international and regional organizations in Yerevan.
"The censorship which was introduced with the state of emergency has contributed to rumours and anxiety among the population about what was happening, at a time when measures to rebuild trust should have been promoted. The fact that some pro-government media tended to demonise the opposition while opposition papers were out of circulation did not contribute to a constructive atmosphere", said Thomas Hammarberg. He suggested that all limitations on the media and freedom of expression now be lifted. "Seven civilians and one policeman were killed and many others were injured. It is necessary to make clear what actually happened and what provoked the outbreak of violence. The two sides describe the events very differently and it is important, also in a human rights perspective, to establish the basic facts. This can only be done through a comprehensive inquiry which is independent, impartial and transparent and perceived as credible by the whole population." "Such an investigation should also aim at drawing lessons and giving recommendations on how similar situations should be handled in future. For instance, it seems clear that the Armenian police needs more training in acceptable riot control measures, serious mistakes were made."
"The establishment of an inquiry of this kind will not be easy in the present polarised climate in Armenia. The international community has expressed its willingness to offer participation or other assistance to such a comprehensive investigation into the 1 March events in order to contribute experience, professionalism and credibility".
Commissioner Hammarberg also stressed the importance of preventing any improper treatment of those arrested. There were cases after 1 March when the detainees had difficulties to contact family members and to have access to a lawyer. Also, the registration of their arrest was not done in accordance with national rules in some instances.
The Commissioner welcomed the Presidential statement on reviewing and removing the current human rights restrictions. Hammarberg emphasized the importance of bringing the state of emergency to an end.
Discussion
Levon wrote:
Finally, the EU starts taking a clear stance on things.
I wisked Hammaberg would be a but tougher with those punks.
127 days before | 
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- 1913 Birth of Mary Atmachian in Bafra (Turkey), literary - public figure and poetess. She was President of the French-Armenian Writers' Union.
- 1924 Birth of Vardoohee Varderessyan (actress).
- 1924 Birth of Lev Koolijanov in Tbilisi. He was a state prize-winning actor, and film producer.
- 1959 Death of military leader Mooshegh Aveteesian (Sasoontsi Mooshegh).
- 1993 Armenia and Ghrghzstan sign a Treaty on the Principles of Inter-governmental Relations.
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