MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

11.3.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Pasqualina Napoletano, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda, Alexandra Dobolyi
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the situation in Armenia

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0113/2008

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Armenia

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Armenia with regard, in particular, to its resolutions on EU policy towards the countries of the South Caucasus of November 2007 and of January 2008,

-  having regard to its resolution on a Black Sea Regional Policy Approach of 17 January 2008,

–  having regard to its resolution on the European Neighbourhood Policy of 15 November 2007,

-  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 July 1999,

–  having regard to the ENP Action Plan endorsed by the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council on 14 November 2006,

-   having regard to the recommendations adopted by the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee on 29-30 January 2007,

-  having regard to the statement of the preliminary findings and conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission of 20 February 2008, as well as the post-election interim report of 3 March 2008,

-  having regard to the statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 1 March 2008 on the situation after the presidential elections on 19 February, as well as the declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 22 February on the presidential elections in Armenia on 19 February 2008,

-  having regard to the statement by Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for the CFSP on 2 March 2008,

–  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

• A.whereas the EU Election Observation mission monitoring the Presidential elections stated on 19 February in its preliminary findings that the presidential elections were conducted 'mostly in line with the country's international commitments',
• B.whereas the official results of the presidential elections in Armenia on 19 February 2008 showed a first-round victory for Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian but were contested by the opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian as being fraudulent,
• C.whereas opposition supporters began peaceful rallies on 20 February in Yerevan to protest against the election result and demand a re-run,
• D.whereas on the evening of 1 March, after eleven days of peaceful protest by opposition supporters, violence erupted when police moved into the Freedom Square in central Yerevan to disperse the protesters camped out in tents,
• E.whereas police confronted the demonstrators with truncheons, tear gas and stun guns, allegedly in reaction to reports to threats from armed protesters; whereas the ensuing violence left eight citizens dead, including one police officer, and more than 130 wounded,
• F.whereas following this unrest, the incumbent President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of emergency,
• G.whereas many people have been arrested and a number of them have been charged with instigating and participating in mass disorder and attempting to forcibly seize power, while two are members of parliament whose immunity has been lifted,
• H.whereas on 8 March 2008 the Constitutional Court of Armenia rejected the opposition candidates' appeal against the official results of Armenia's presidential elections,
• I.whereas the European Union remains committed to further assisting Armenia with the necessary political and economic reforms, and with measures to establish solid and efficient democratic institutions, to tackle corruption, thereby creating a peaceful and prosperous Armenia that can contribute to stability in the region and the rest of Europe,

1.  Expresses its concern at recent developments that have taken place in Armenia, with the violent police crackdown on opposition demonstrations that have led to the deaths of eight of its citizens and over a hundred injured;

2.  Calls on the Armenian authorities to allow a full, independent investigation into events which led to the violence;

3.  Calls on the Armenian authorities to lift the emergency rule;

4.  Calls on all parties to show restraint in order to defuse the current political crisis, and to engage in a constructive dialogue; in this regard commends the President-elect's call for dialogue and offer to form a broad coalition government;

5.  Reminds the Armenian government of its commitment to become fully integrated into the European structures through the ENP Action Plan - this entails respect for the principle of freedom of expression, including freedom to assemble and freedom of the media, respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law - and of its commitment to conducting free and fair elections in conformity with international standards;

6.  Urges the Council, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana and his special envoy for South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, to make every effort in order to facilitate the dialogue between the parties, defuse tension and contribute towards restoring mutual confidence;

7.  Welcomes the mediation by the OSCE's special envoy Ambassador Heikki Talvitie who has much experience of the S. Caucasus region and urges the Armenian authorities to fully cooperate with the international community to find an agreed solution;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Member States, the President and the Parliament of Armenia, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.