The Council of Europe had organized a conference entitled “Electoral developments in Armenia: Lessons learned and further steps”. The program within which the conference was held is co-funded by the EU. In her opening speech, the head of the CoE Office in Yerevan Natalia Vutova said, that they would discuss the positive and negative lessons learned during these elections. She stressed, “We aim to continue our work with the government and civil society”.
In his opening speech the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Peter Switalski addressed three messages to the authorities. As we have informed, the first message was about the CEC stuff change, since regardless is efficacy people do not trust the institution.
The second is about changes in the judicial system, “If you want people to trust you, trust the results of the electoral process, you need to have a credible, independently operating body. If people do not see independence and neutrality in political perspective within the law enforcement bodies, we can never persuade them to believe that these bodies serve people. All law enforcement bodies are considered part of the state in democratic countries. They are not perceived as a force serving the interests of the political elite. Ordinary citizens must be confident that these bodies are on their side. We need to change public perceptions”.
Peter Switalski stated, “Moral crisis is very deep in the RA educational institutions. “Azatutyun” and other journalists have revealed cases of money distribution, there have been cases when people have been beaten and humiliated. Private company employees have been treated crudely ad uncivilly. These phenomena are unacceptable. They must be punished, otherwise, these facts will always be unavoidable. I do not want to discuss stories of apathy and despair since I do not consider myself an expert on the Armenian society, but I know, that Armenians need profound democracy and freedom. After two years of living in Armenia, I realized that Armenians genetically want freedom. They are very brave to fight for their freedom, regardless how far Armenia has gone to become a liberal democratic state. I know that the path is not easy, but I’m sure that Armenia has future. Armenia will have more satisfying elections”.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
