MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
11.3.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Marios Matsakis, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Marco Cappato,
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the situation in Armenia
B6‑0120/2008
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Armenia
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the preliminary findings of the International Election Observation Mission and reports from human rights organisations, in particular reports from Human Rights Watch;
- having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on Armenia and on the South Caucasus,
in particular the Polfer report, adopted on 17 January 2008;
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas there have been reports and complaints of severe harassment of opposition activists in the run-up to the 19 February Presidential elections and the pre-election climate became increasingly tense;
B. whereas the International Election Observation Mission stated that the 19 February Presidential elections were "administered mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards", but also identified a number of concerns, in particular concerning the media's commitment to provide impartial information, along with OSCE standards;
C. whereas supporters of opposition candidate and former President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian staged peaceful protests in the centre of Yerevan already from 20 February, following the announcement of the results, which gave the victory to incumbent Prime minister Serzh Sargsian with 52,8% of the votes against 21,5% for Levon Ter-Petrossian;
D. whereas police and security forces dispersed the protestors assembled on freedom Square on 1 March, leading to the death of 9 people and outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of emergency in the country;
1. condemns the disproportionate use of force by the Armenian police and security forces in the crack-down on the protestors and demands an objective and independent investigation on the use of force;
2. recalls that the Armenian authorities bear full responsibility for any misuse of force that may have occurred and calls on the Armenian authorities to conduct the investigation into the tragic events on 1 March with objectivity and full transparency; calls on the Council and the Commission to offer EU assistance to the Armenian authorities for such an investigation;
3. reminds the opposition that the right to peaceful protest is to be exercised fully within the law and with utmost diligence so as to avoid any risk of confrontation;
4. calls on the Armenian authorities to lift the state of emergency declared on 1 March and to call back the heavy police and security force presence in Yerevan and other major cities;
5. expects that the Constitutional Court of Armenia, which has been asked to nullify the election result, will be able to carry out its deliberations without political pressure and deliver an objective and independent judicial ruling within the set time-frame before 8 March;
6. calls on both the government and the opposition to take urgent steps to defuse the tense political situation and to engage in dialogue aimed at improving the political climate in the country; expresses its support for the efforts of the EU Special Representative and of the OSCE Special Representative in this respect;
7. repeats its call on the Armenian authorities to make further progress in strengthening democratic structures, the rule of law and protection of human rights; calls, in particular, for further efforts to be made in establishing an independent judiciary, in promoting reforms in the police, the civil service and local government, in fighting corruption and in creating a vibrant civil society;
8. reiterates the clear EU commitment to building closer ties with Armenia and the South Caucasus countries, notably with further developing and strengthening the Neighbourhood Policy; underlines however, that closer co-operation with the European Union must be based on real and tangible progress and reforms, and full commitment to democracy and the rule of law; calls on the Commission to further support efforts aimed at improving the political culture in Armenia, strengthen dialogue and defuse the high level of tension between governing parties and the opposition;
9. instructs its President for forward this resolution to the Commission and the Member States of the European Union, to the Armenian Parliament, President and opposition forces and to the OSCE and the Council of Europe.