May 26, 2008

U.S. Human Rights and Democracy Official Visits Armenia June 23-25, 2008

David Kramer, the U.S. Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, visited Armenia June 23-25, 2008. The purpose of his visit was to discuss the current human rights and democracy situation in Armenia, and in particular to register U.S. government concerns about the recent democratic setbacks related to February's presidential election, March 1-2 events, and their continuing aftermath.

During his visit, Assistant Secretary Kramer met with Armenia's Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, various human rights activists, Mr. Levon Ter-Petrossian, various media representatives, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian, Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielian, Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian, various members of the political opposition, and various relatives of opposition activists who are currently in detention. The U.S. Embassy also hosted a reception in honor of Assistant Secretary Kramer that was attended by government officials, members of the opposition, civil society activists, and various European ambassadors to Armenia.

Assistant Secretary Kramer addressed a wide range of issues in his discussions. In particular, he urged Armenia's authorities to promptly undertake a series of initiatives to help Armenia return to a democratic path, including a) the full restoration of freedoms of assembly and the press; b) immediate release of all members of the opposition who have been detained for having expressed their political views; c) the launching of a serious, credible and independent investigation into the March 1-2 events, including into the deaths of the ten victims; and d) engagement of the authorities in a genuine political dialogue with the political opposition and civil society. To this end, Assistant Secretary Kramer in his meetings urged both the authorities and the political opposition to refrain from unhelpful public statements that hinder the prospects for dialogue.

Assistant Secretary Kramer also urged the authorities to allow the A1 Plus television channel back on the air, and to put an immediate stop to anti-Semitic attacks seen recently in Armenia's Public Television and other media.

During his trip to the South Caucasus region, Assistant Secretary Kramer is also visiting Georgia and Azerbaijan.

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