The European Council forum "In the name of democracy" was held in Armenia. During the forum the principles of democratic government and their practical application and influence were discussed.
Representatives of over 30 countries took part in this event, including the heads of the Council of Europe.
The Armenian authorities haven’t implemented CE resolution 1677 on the functioning of democratic institutions or resolutions 1609, 1620, 1643, ordering the Armenian authorities to carry out an independent, unbiased, transparent and reliable investigation of the events of the 1st of March 2008, in which 10 people protesting against the outcome
of presidential elections were killed, and release all the opposition activists still remaining in jail. On the eve of the forum Armenian civil rights advocates addressed Torbjorn Jagland. They asked him to press for the liberation of the political prisoners. A rally and a picket were also held in Yerevan, organized by the Armenian National Congress.
Deputy secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Louis Laurent, told a meeting with relatives of victims of the March 1st events that Thomas Hammerberg will visit Armenia in early 2011.
According to some data, the commissioner may visit jails. 13 activists still remain in jail. The killers haven’t been found yet.
Some experts try to explain the passivity of European officials by the fact that the West is trying to use the Council of Europe to exercise pressure on the Armenian authorities concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In order to resolve ideological problems, the West is keeping the Armenian authorities in suspense, thus making them more vulnerable and compliant. However, the long-awaited moment of truth is gradually being replaced by Armenian society's mistrust of the CE.
As one of the participants on the picket-line said: "The March 1st bullets were cast in Strasbourg".
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
