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THE EU REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF INTENSIFYING RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
YEREVAN
MAY 13, 2011
The European Union made a statement May 12 on recent developments
in Armenia.
"The EU has on a number of occasions raised concerns about freedom
of assembly in the country. We therefore welcome the fact that, for
the first time in many years, the political opposition was granted
permission to hold a rally in Liberty Square on 28 April. We hope
that future requests to hold rallies will be handled in the same
way. This rally passed off in an orderly manner due, it seems, to the
effective cooperation between law enforcement bodies and opposition
groups. With Armenia due to begin a new cycle of elections in 2012,
we attach particular importance to the respect for freedom of assembly.
The EU also welcomes President Sargsyan's statement of 20 April in
which he called for a more meticulous investigation into the violent
events of March 2008. In that same context, we welcome the fact that
in recent weeks three opposition activists, Harutyun Urutyan, Roman
Mnatsakanyan and Aram Bareghamyan, sentenced and imprisoned in the
aftermath of those events, have been released on parole. We call on
the Armenian authorities to release all the activists that remain in
detention soon. The EU believes that a thorough investigation of the
violent events of March 2008 and the release of all those in custody
in relation to those events will help Armenia to truly move on.
Finally the EU would like to reiterate once again the importance
it attaches to intensified relations with Armenia and invites the
Armenian government to make full use of the opportunities provided
by the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy".
From: A. Papazian
ARMENPRESS
YEREVAN
MAY 13, 2011
The European Union made a statement May 12 on recent developments
in Armenia.
"The EU has on a number of occasions raised concerns about freedom
of assembly in the country. We therefore welcome the fact that, for
the first time in many years, the political opposition was granted
permission to hold a rally in Liberty Square on 28 April. We hope
that future requests to hold rallies will be handled in the same
way. This rally passed off in an orderly manner due, it seems, to the
effective cooperation between law enforcement bodies and opposition
groups. With Armenia due to begin a new cycle of elections in 2012,
we attach particular importance to the respect for freedom of assembly.
The EU also welcomes President Sargsyan's statement of 20 April in
which he called for a more meticulous investigation into the violent
events of March 2008. In that same context, we welcome the fact that
in recent weeks three opposition activists, Harutyun Urutyan, Roman
Mnatsakanyan and Aram Bareghamyan, sentenced and imprisoned in the
aftermath of those events, have been released on parole. We call on
the Armenian authorities to release all the activists that remain in
detention soon. The EU believes that a thorough investigation of the
violent events of March 2008 and the release of all those in custody
in relation to those events will help Armenia to truly move on.
Finally the EU would like to reiterate once again the importance
it attaches to intensified relations with Armenia and invites the
Armenian government to make full use of the opportunities provided
by the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy".
From: A. Papazian