Sakunts will address Vahe Avetyan’s Case during his Meeting with Rompuy
10:09, July 9, 2012 | News | Right to Life
On June 3, 2012, President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy is arriving in Armenia for a two-day visit.
It was planned that Rompuy would immediately leave for Tsitsernakaberd from the “Zvartnots” Airport to put a wreath in memory of innocent victims of Armenian Genocide, but as president’s press office informed the “Azatutyun” Radio Station, his visit would be held the next day, as he was arriving with one hour delay.
In the evening, the President of the European Council will have a meeting with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. During the meeting, they will discuss issues connected with the relationship between Armenia and European Council, as well as domestic issues.. After the meeting, later in the evening, Serzh Sargsyan and Herman Van Rompuy will hold a joint press conference at Presidential Residence.
On Wednesday morning, Van Rompuy will take part in “Armenia in Europe” civil forum, in the Government Reception House, where he will give a speech. Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly Vanadzor, who is a member of the forum, informed “Azatutyun” Radio Station, that the forum will discuss issues connected with main directions for the Eastern Partnership; in particular, NGO-s will present their opinion on the issues of democracy, human rights protection and good governance in Armenia.
The chairman of the human rights organization stated, that during the forum he will present some concerns about human rights protection situation in Armenia. – “… that in general, we have serious concerns about acting mechanisms, judicial system, attorney institute, Institute of the Human Rights Defender, and the risks and concerns connected with human rights activism, which significantly reduce the level of human rights protection. This is an additional opportunity for the civil society organizations to present their approaches, concerns and issues, which will be taken into consideration by the European Union representatives as well as by Armenian Government while signing the Associating Agreement”. – he said: “It is the first time that in the framework EU- Armenia relations, civil society institutes have a great direct role and an opportunity to express their opinion. We didn’t have such a status previously”, – emphasized Artur Sakunts.
The human rights activist also stated that, tomorrow, during the meeting with the President of the European Council he will address the case of Vahe Avetyan, the military doctorcruelly beaten to death in “Harsnakar” Restaurant.
“Inevitably, this case, which is connected with the business of a member of Parliament and a representative of the ruling party will become a matter of serious discussion”, – he said.
On Wednesday morning, after the meeting with civil society representatives, Herman Van Rompuy will meet the Speaker of Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan. He will give a speech in the Parliament as well.
By the way, “We demand Punishment for all guilty of “Harsnakar” events” Initiative Group will hold a protest in front of the National Assembly, while the President of the European Council will have a visit there. The group will demand Ruben Hayrapetyan (RPA) be deprived of his parliamentary mandate.