WHICH SIDE TO TAKE?

This Is The Problem

The NA temporary committee investigating March 1 developments convened its regular session yesterday to clarify which extra-parliamentary forces will be invited to participate in the works of the newly formed instance with the right to a consultative vote.

As the Head of the Committee Samvel Nikoyan informed us during the press conference, three extra-parliamentary forces were chosen: United Labor Party, “National Unity” and “Nor Jamanakner”. In case the before mentioned parties accept the proposal, they must send one representative each to have their role in the investigation of March 1 tragedy.
By the prescribed manner the committee has sent three letters to the before mentioned 3 parties, waiting for their response. Why did they give preference to the parties that have overcome the 3% barrier? Because according to the speaker: “in other case the election would have been a bit willful.
The committee has sent an “invitation” for cooperation to the presidential candidates, but, not the self-nominated ones but those who have been nominated by the initiative of certain parties. The conversation is about the leader of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan, leader of the National Democratic Party Vazgen Manukyan and leader of “National Unanimity” Aram Harutyunyan, who can participate in the works of the committee, personally or by their representatives.
The procedure of Ter-Petrosyan’s “invitation” is enshrined in the decision with a special point.
“To solve the issue of the participation of the civil society” the committee has addressed a letter to the President of the Republic, asking him to nominate a candidate from the staff of the Public Council to participate in the committee with the status of an “invited”. Secretary of RPA faction didn’t exclude that Victor Dallakyan will be this candidate; even though he has publicly announced that he is not going to participate in the works of the committee investigating March 1 tragedy.
As regards ‘Heritage” party, in fact, they boycott the works of the committee, and propose to involve Myasnik Malkhasyan and Sasus Mikaelyan in the “case”. The latter, by the way, are under detention. Anyhow, in his response S. Nikoyan urges Raffi Hovhannisyan to send representatives from his own fraction. He hopes that his colleagues from “Heritage” party will review their stance, which mildly speaking contradicts NA decision.
In addition the committee has addressed a letter to the Council of Europe Venice Committee and the representative of the European Union in Armenia to send international experts. The day before Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan made similar proposal to the Council of Europe and OSCE. In case of necessity the committee is ready to invite other international experts.
“Will the committee manage to implement this huge work in time?”
“We must try. It depends on how soon the extra-parliamentary forces will respond to our proposals, to be included in the staff of the committee and start our works as soon as possible. It is a very important factor.
We will try to finish our work by the end of October. If we finish earlier, we will come out with a report. If the committee considers that we need more time we will appeal to the National Assembly asking them to prolong the term of our competencies,” the speaker underscored.
In case of necessity the committee will invite and ask questions to the former high-ranking officials, former responsible representatives of the National Security and Internal Affairs, even Robert Kocharyan, though NA decision doesn’t envisage similar “obligation”.
And what is Samvel Nikoyan’s attitude towards some people’s intentions to set up “public committee?
“They can set up 1, 10, 100 committees, as many as they want. It is their problem. This committee is a concrete committee set up by the decision of the National Assembly, with certain competences. And it is the obligation of the state bodies to respond to our letters and to submit all the necessary documents. We can invite all the high-ranking officials and listen to their clarifications. Does any other committee have these competencies,” the head of the committee said in response to our question.
After all “we face a concrete problem that must be solved. There are two approaches - not to participate in the works of the committee and simply criticize, or to work. We have chosen the second one.”
Moreover “there can be some political forces or people who will not want to see a complete conclusion regarding March 1-2 tragedy. They will propose to close this page of our history and move forward. But it is not the problem of the committee. Our task is to work. Even if they try to create and atmosphere of distrust, to criticize the works that we haven’t even started, anyway we will do our work.” RPA Secretary believes.
LILIT POGHOSYAN

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