Further developments to decide possible state of emergency lift: Oskanyan
05.03.2008,
02:51
A decision to lift the state of emergency may be made by the president depending on the next days’ developments, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a March 4 news conference.
YEREVAN, March 4. /ARKA/. A decision to lift the state of emergency may be made by the president depending on the next days’ developments, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a March 4 news conference.
European Commission member Benitta Ferrero Waldner stated that the European Commission urges the Armenian government to lift the state of emergency imposed on March 1, as well as it calls on all the Armenian political forces to refrain from use of force and launch a dialogue to settle the disagreements.
“We are all eager to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible, however, it is up to the president to make the final decision,” Oskanyan said.
The Minister stressed that all the measures are undertaken by the Armenian authorities within the framework of the law, in conformity with international conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the resolution on human rights restrictions stipulating clearly formulated provisions on the current situation.
Minister Oskanyan said every measure imposed in Yerevan, including the restrictions on mass media and human rights are stipulated by the given conventions.
“The only question is the possible length of the state of emergency. I think it will continue as long as needed. It goes without saying that the president, the government structures, and society are all eager to see Yerevan regaining its normal way of living and find a way out of the tense situation in the shortest terms,” Oskanyan emphasized.
From February 20 to March 1, Armenia’s opposition political forces led by ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan were holding rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan protesting against the results of February 19 presidential elections attributing victory to Prime Minister Serge Sargssyan.
On March 1 morning, the police dispersed the rally, and the participants moved toward the French Embassy, near the Yerevan Municipality to continue their rally there.
According to the Police, the situation went beyond control and the crowd set to destroy and plunder the government and private buildings in the neighborhood.
On March 1, RA President Robert Kocharyan issued a decree on a state of emergency, the police and the army put an end to the mass unrest. As a result, 131 people were injured, eight were killed and 36 vehicles were burned down.–0—
European Commission member Benitta Ferrero Waldner stated that the European Commission urges the Armenian government to lift the state of emergency imposed on March 1, as well as it calls on all the Armenian political forces to refrain from use of force and launch a dialogue to settle the disagreements.
“We are all eager to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible, however, it is up to the president to make the final decision,” Oskanyan said.
The Minister stressed that all the measures are undertaken by the Armenian authorities within the framework of the law, in conformity with international conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the resolution on human rights restrictions stipulating clearly formulated provisions on the current situation.
Minister Oskanyan said every measure imposed in Yerevan, including the restrictions on mass media and human rights are stipulated by the given conventions.
“The only question is the possible length of the state of emergency. I think it will continue as long as needed. It goes without saying that the president, the government structures, and society are all eager to see Yerevan regaining its normal way of living and find a way out of the tense situation in the shortest terms,” Oskanyan emphasized.
From February 20 to March 1, Armenia’s opposition political forces led by ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan were holding rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan protesting against the results of February 19 presidential elections attributing victory to Prime Minister Serge Sargssyan.
On March 1 morning, the police dispersed the rally, and the participants moved toward the French Embassy, near the Yerevan Municipality to continue their rally there.
According to the Police, the situation went beyond control and the crowd set to destroy and plunder the government and private buildings in the neighborhood.
On March 1, RA President Robert Kocharyan issued a decree on a state of emergency, the police and the army put an end to the mass unrest. As a result, 131 people were injured, eight were killed and 36 vehicles were burned down.–0—
