Council of Europe 'turns a blind eye' to Armenia's non-fulfillment of its commitments, Arthur Sakunts

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has always conducted monitoring in Armenia, but Armenian authorities do not fulfill the obligations they have assumed by joining the Council of the Europe, head of the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly and human rights defender Arthur Sakunts told a press conference today.

According to him, it is 9 years now since Armenia became a member of the Council of Europe but the non-fulfillment of its commitments assumed before the Council of Europe has entailed new problems. The non-correspondence of Armenia's legislation to international conventions, in his words, is one such problem.

Further Mr Sakunts said that there are still unresolved issues, among them also the fact that all those responsible for the killings during the 1 March 2008 riots have not been identified and to be held accountable. The special investigation service does not take real actions for the purpose.

"[Only] the names of the 4 four policemen are known who used special means due to which at least 4 people died," said he, adding that an "unbiased investigation of the March 1 events is necessary to conduct."

"The next problem is bringing Armed Forces against the demonstrators," said Mr Sakunts, adding it was "an extraordinary case and a brazen violation of constitutional norms."

According to him the Council of Europe should be consistent about the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by Armenia's authorities instead of failing to give a worthy response. Failure to further fulfillment of Armenia's obligations may result in a situation that Armenia's membership to the Council of Europe may be senseless.