Sweden concerned about the situation in Armenia

04/05/2008 Lilit SEYRANYAN

During the state of emergency of March 1-20 Swedish MP Kalle Larson applied to the foreign affairs minister of Armenia and asked what Sweden could do and what actions could be done within the framework of the EU to help Armenia in connection with the events that have happened, “criticizing the Armenian government, helping to increase respect to human rights”, as well as the democratic situation in Armenia.

Recently the FM of Sweden Carl Bild had a speech in the parliament to answer to this question, which has become a topic of debates. After the minister’s speech MP Larson asked a number of questions to the minister. In his speech the FM of Sweden spoke about the developments in Armenia after the presidential election, which resulted in a number of victims, as well as about abuse and violation of democratic and human rights and said that their country was concerned about those facts. He also said that Sweden supported the announcements of the EU and OSCE. “Sweden appreciates the fact that the EU reacted fast and jointly. The EU expressed its stance clearly and through its special representative in South Caucasus Peter Semnebi and expressed concerns in relation to the clampdown and abuse of the demonstrators’ rights on the part of the authorities. Also the representatives of the government and opposition were petitioned to organize a dialog and raise the state of emergency. Sweden appreciates the fact that the state of emergency has been raised, however is concerned about the fact that new limitations have been put on freedoms of organizing marches,” said Mr. Bild in his speech and added that Sweden would follow the processes and how Armenia would protect human rights in the country. According to Bild, his ministry has published a statement on Armenia, which specifies that “Armenia has limited respect to political rights and civic freedoms.” He said that the EU had appointed a special group to be in charge of observing the future developments, including Armenia. The presiding country of that group is Sweden, which, according to the ministry, is conducting an intensive dialog with the Armenian government. “We are also supporting the efforts of the OSCE to find a solution for the Karabakh conflict, which consecutively may bring peace to the region,” Carl Bild said.
 
Mr. Larson said that the situation in Armenia is very serious, which doesn’t concern the recent events only. He emphasized that human rights violations had been “quite common” before that too. According to him, there are some specific definitions in the minister’s reply, but they could say more. “Meanwhile I’d like to specify that this is an official statement. Through its foreign affairs minister Sweden is expressing very concerning definitions concerning human rights violations. This warning should have been very clear. At the same time we should realize that only supporting or generally encouraging are not sufficient. We should demand more specific things concerning changes. For this reason, one of the questions I am asking to the minister is that I am asking him to extend his answer and explain, for instance, what he thinks about the demands developed by the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammerberg and the Human Rights Watch. Those demands concern setting free the political prisoners, whose total number exceeds 100, in-depth and independent investigation the reports on the unlimited violence and abuse. It is about canceling the limitations to the law on marches to make them consistent with the international standards, and also enable people to express their opinions together, in streets. I also wander whether the FM supports the demand to conduct independent investigation to find out what really happened during the events that we are discussing now. Such independent, unbiased, transparent and understandable investigation should be organized because we simply don’t know many things. We have no information about the arrested opposition leaders and MPs who are either in cells now or are kept otherwise. Where are they and what is their status? What is the real situation of Sasun Mikayelyan, Hakob Hakobyan and Myasnik Malkhasyan? Where are they now? We haven’t received any information through the contacts we are trying to establish with the Armenian regime. Opposition journalist Nycol Pashinyan is in a hidden place now because he cannot act openly. These are examples how people who manage to express their oppositional opinions are persecuted. This is such step that can never be allowed by democracy,” said the Swedish MP. Concerning the threats of the foreign affairs minister saying that if there are no steps they will not provide aids any more the MP said, “It is clear that some countries cannot always receive aids from Sweden. This issue should be revised at all times. However, is it appropriate to stop providing aids concerning democracy and human rights in a situation when the crimes connected with democracy and human rights are so serious and deep? I think what the minister is going to say will have some purpose not only here, during our discussion here in the Riksdag, but also for those who will somehow read the minutes. It may be also a message to the Armenian regime and support those people, who are advocating for democracy and human rights. For this purpose it is important how the answer is interpreted.”

The FM answered that he didn’t have any significant misunderstanding with the MP, however the question is that “what we can do.” “Larson has some specific questions concerning conducting an independent investigation of the events of March 1. Also, the people who were arrested during that time should be set free as well, excluding those people who were guilty of such crimes which would be punished in Sweden by the criminal code as well. These demands have been submitted. The EU special representative Peter Semnebi has been there recently. Thus, I believe that we have been curious and attentive on the part of the EU. It also concerns the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE… I think that the European neighborhood policy is our tool of influencing on the development of some other countries neighboring Armenia. It is such issue that despite the fact who they are, they are interested in it. It includes a number of long-term very strong stimulus, which can be very significant for development of the country. However, it means that those countries should undertake certain responsibilities of democracy and human rights. Accordingly, I don’t think that we should overestimate the fact that the Swedish limited aid is being terminated in a situation when we have obtained a stronger tool which is the European neighborhood policy. At this point it is more possible that we will have to have common opinions,” the FM said.

However, Larson thinks that the discussion can serve its best if the political requirements are more specific because “this Swedish discussion is clarifying where our government is up to, what demands it has developed in the past and has now because the Swedish press has been comparatively keeping silence about the situation in Armenia.” “Neither the foreign affairs minister nor me are responsible for that. Certainly, they are writing what they want. This is the reason why we are calling it free speech. Meanwhile, the discussion in the Swedish Riksdag has enabled to express opinions publicly,” said the MP and assured that Sweden is advocating for the demands to launch an independent investigation of the events and set all political prisoners free. He also said that by saying “political prisoners” he meant those people, who were not guilty for any crimes. “I don’t think that I am exaggerating the significance of the Swedish aid, however it is not purposeless. All what Sweden is doing as a separate state has certain meaning. The investments that can be contributed to democracy and human rights, certainly, can be valuable even if other contributions may be bigger and more valuable. It also has a symbolic meaning. It shows that Sweden has participation. It shows that Sweden is interested and is actively participating in development not only through international institutions that we know are working, but also as a nation. Probably it is where we are different; whether Sweden will have a specific, clear and concrete policy of foreign affairs and aids, or will act simply within the framework of its umbrella organizations,” the MP said. He also said that even those people who left Armenia are afraid to return due to the reason that they left their country as a result of persecutions. “The minister of migration can answer those questions, but you can talk to him on other topics as well. In such case it is worth telling him that Armenians mostly may be persecuted if they are sent back.”

According to minister Bild, now they have very effective tools, which are more effective than before. “Of course Peter Semnebi is a Swedish diplomat. However, if we sent just some Swedish diplomats to Yerevan to talk to high ranked officials, I don’t think there could be such big effect. Now he is acting in the region as the EU special representative and has the mandate of all 27 foreign affairs ministers. Certainly, it is significantly changing the style of activities. I wish the role of the European neighborhood policy and Euro integration could be bigger in terms of such issues. In such case we would have better opportunities to influence, for instance, on the developments that are happening in Armenia. South Caucasus is an important region. Several days ago I was in the region; I visited Tbilisi, Georgia, and had some discussions concerning the situation in Armenia. We have tools and we should use them. First of all, those European tools. The tools that we have – the EU, CE. We will preside the council of ministers of these institutions in the mid May, and also the OSCE, which is under the Finnish presidium,” said the minister and added that they should still be an active participant in order to influence on Armenia’s development as much as they can in a direction, where his opinion and that of the MP are the same. After this speech of the minister Larson had a speech as well and said that he did not agree with the minister’s opinion that they should use the tools suggested by the international institutions, with which Sweden is cooperating. He believes that Sweden should send not only separate representatives, but also have its specific and separate policy. “Don’t let me cast shadow on the fact that we can make it clear from the Riksdag that Sweden is worried. Sweden has a number of investments. We are also criticizing some contradicting issues in Armenia. These are such critics, which can influence on different levels if they reach Armenia,” he said. When concluding his speech the minister said that the developments in Caucasus are important and emphasized, “We can discuss whether the territory is in Europe or no. However, it has a plenty of European values and European culture. They have to fulfill their responsibilities within the framework of the European neighborhood policy, EU and OSCE. We have tools, of course such tools have two sides, but they are very effective tools through the international and European organizations, where we are represented. When we see such developments and activities in Armenia, we should use those tools to the extent they may be mostly effective.”