Yesterday Marie Anne Isler Béguin, the head of the European Parliament delegation for cooperation with Armenia told that some time ago they were planning to go to the Armenian-Turkish border and meet with Turkish colleagues but “we were advised to be more restrained and let the Armenian-Turkish relations develop on their own and only then let these steps take place.” Mrs. Béguin didn’t specify, who gave them the mentioned advice.
According to her, the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border was numerously raised in the EU. They were even asked to speak about the social, economic and other issues that maybe originated after the opening of the border. She said that not only she wants the border open but also the whole EU. “I am sure that the opening of the border will have a positive impact both on Armenia and Turkey,” she said. "Discussions are very heated regarding the arrests of those seven," she said. The delegation led by Béguin visited the penitentiary and met with political prisoners. In fact, Isler Beguin used the term "political prisoner". "First, we met with those in the penitentiaries to see what they have to say about the events because the European Parliament pays close attention to issues related to human rights. True, those seven who were arrested as a result of the events of March 1 interest us. That is why we spoke with the Justice Minister, the Chief of Police, as well as RA Deputies, but we must also take into account the views expressed by the Council of Europe which define the concept "political prisoner"," told "A1+ Isler Beguin. The European guests also met with NGO representatives today to discuss the issues concerning political prisoners. "The Council of Europe and the NGOs give various definitions for the term political prisoner. But one thing is for sure-when we take a glance back at the events of March 1, we realize that it is clear that the EU must extend a hand to the Armenian authorities to implement the legislative and judicial reforms so that people will see their issues resolved. I think that in that sense we received positive remarks by the Chief of Police and our colleagues." In response to the question of "A1+", Mrs. Isler Beguin also touched upon the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and Turkey’s EU integration. "I hope that the blockade will end very soon and the roads will be open. Turkey is currently in the stage of EU integration. As you know, Turkey may become an EU member only after it resolves all issues and corresponds to EU norms. I hope that all countries of the South Caucasus, including Armenia, become EU members and I hope that that will happen in the near future," she said. Do EU standards apply for all countries? How will the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement reflect upon Turkey’s EU integration process? In response to that Beguin said: "The same standards apply for all countries. That is why for some countries the process takes longer and for some it takes shorter. The standards don’t include the recognition of the genocide. We can study the legal and legislative fields, but there is no fixed standard." A number of issues were included in the agenda of the committee, which the Armenian and European parliamentarians touched upon and expressed their views. MP Ashotyan presented the problems of Armenia-European cooperation in the spheres of health care, education and culture, the reforms being implemented and the programs. He said that as a result of the influence of global financial-economic crisis some budgetary programs have been moved to the end of the year but have not been reduced. He highlighted the enlivening of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere with EU countries and the availability of distinct programs. Other MPs gave a speech on the macro-economic development in Armenia, influence of the global financial-economic crisis on the economy, reduction of its consequences and ways of prevention. Head of delegation of European Commission in Armenia made clarifications on this problem. He noticed that united discussions were going on the problem of providing visas in EU countries, a number of problems exist, and Armenia should take certain steps in the settlement of the problem. MP Mr. Gagik Melikyan presented the tendencies of the poverty reduction and the development of labor market in Armenia and the envisaged steps, i.e. the road construction to be implemented by the financial assistance of the international organizations, the planned house construction in the disaster area, the repairing of the drinking and irrigation water, the construction of Iran-Armenia railway and new nuclear energy block. Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Co-Chair of the Committee considered concerning the information about the construction of the new nuclear energy block, proposing to think once again about its expediency, taking into account the seismic danger of the region. “European parliamentarians held meetings with the prisoners involved in the March 1-2 case without any obstacles,” Marie Anne Isler Béguin. She pointed out that during a number of meetings the European parliamentarians listened to the prisoners’ points of view of the March 1-2 events and of hearings of their cases. The Armenian political opposition forces led by Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan held rallies in Yerevan from February 20 to March 1, 2008, protesting the results of the February 19 presidential election in Armenia. On March 1-2 the actions of protest developed into riots and clashes with law–enforcers, which claimed ten lives, leaving over 200 casualties. Marie Anne Isler Béguin pointed out that the prisoners’ conditions in the places of confinement are among the most topical issues during European delegations’ visit to Armenia. She is informed of the construction of new penitentiaries with much better conditions in Armenia. The European parliamentarian said that the issue of prisoners involved in the March 1-2 case must be settled, and the authorities are taking relevant steps. “I participated in a demonstration against NATO on Saturday. I am a supporter of democracy.” Marie Anne Isler Béguin called for drawing lessons from the March events and preventing rallies that may claim human lives. She stated she is for peaceful rallies that are not followed by riots.