There is progress, but it is limited

Is mentioned in another report on the EU-Armenia action plan implementation

 “In 2010 Armenia made some progress in the area of political dialogue and reform. Positive steps were taken to overcome the political crisis, with the gradual release of a number of persons detained for charges related to the March 2008 events”, is mentioned in the “European Neighborhood Policy Implementation in 2010” document, in the national report on Armenia that was spread by the European Union delegation in Armenia yesterday. In this report on the EU-Armenia action plan implementation it is mentioned that in order to fulfill the obligations “Armenia has to put more efforts in protecting the human rights and preventing cases of torture and ill treatment, as well as improving the conditions in the prisons. Armenia has to continue reforms in the structures of the police, security services and attorney’s office. The appropriate enforcement and productive implementation of the law in all spheres, development of the capacities, and the independence of the judicial system will have substantial importance for the further implementation of the Association Agreement. Armenia has to continue making efforts to strengthen the plurality of the mass media and intensify fight against corruption, particularly on the level of implementation.” In the section called “The democracy and the superiority of the law” is particularly mentioned, “The investigation of the March events of 2008 were not full and did not lead to concrete results. The suits brought by the relatives of the persons who died as a result of the post-electoral clashes in March 2008 were rejected”. However, some progress was also noted in judicial reforms in the framework of the Strategy Action Plan of the Judicial Reforms, “Particularly, the transparency of the judicial system was increased, the electronic data of the court statistics were improved and the courthouses were renovated and modernized. However, no progress was made concerning the independence of the judicial system that still raises concerns. Judges are still under the influence of attorneys, as well as politically and economically powerful figures.”

According to the report, “Information was received about tortures in the prisons, police stations, as well as toward draftees. Generally, no appropriate investigation was made on these cases.” Once again it is mentioned, “No progress is made toward signing and ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.” Last year no progress was made in improving the prison conditions, “Penal institutions generally do not correspond to the international standards. The overpopulation and the low level of medical services and the low wage and the corruption existing in the prison administration are still a subject of concern.”

The freedom of speech and field of information were reflected on separately, where, according to the used definition a “slight” improvement was made, “In May positive progress was made in the field of decriminalization of the slander. However, the cases of violence toward the journalists without appropriate investigation and the influence of the government on the broadcasting mass media (including the doubts concerning the independence of the supervising organs) continue to remain a subject of concern. The progress made in the mass media plurality is limited.”

The most part of the report concerns the economic reforms, “Considering the painful collapse in Armenia as a result of the Global Financial Crisis in 2009 and first half of 2010, the economic reforms, the overcome of poverty and social unity, as well as implementation of the goals concerning the protection of the environment that took place in the Action Plan were limited.” It is also mentioned, “Limited progress is made in strengthening the anticorruption legislature and toward implementation of the anticorruption strategy and action plan. In 2010 Armenia registered a slight decrease of the corruption level.”

Other assessments are that the tax and custom system of the alcohol products of Armenia do not correspond to the demands of the International Trade Organization, and adequate changes should be made. Or it is mentioned, “The role of the state commission on protecting the economic competition has weakened, because of the lack of financial independence.”

Concerning the protection of the intellectual property the report mentions a shameful index, “In the field of project falsification as a result of the examination in May 2010 of the analytical organization, Armenia is on the fifth place. The overall size of the falsified projects is 90 % compared to 95 % in 2006 and 92% in 2009. The Armenian government has developed an implementation strategy of the right of the intellectual property and the action plan.”

P.S. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and the First-Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, as well as the president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek made statements on May 27 with which they welcomed the president Sargsyan’s initiative to supervise the investigation of March 1 events. “These are important developments for Armenia that correspond to the demands voiced by the EU long ago and to the proposals of the PACE/ODIHR”, stated Catherine Ashton. And Jerzy Buzek stated, “I welcome the decisions of the Armenian parliament and the president of Azerbaijan in regard to releasing prisoners of conscience. I can convincingly say that this is a step in the right direction.”