The human rights defender of Armenia Armen Harutiunyan told that he had decided to participate in the fact-finding group for March 1-2. He told about this during his interview to Radio Liberty. Nevertheless, the ombudsman stated that the creation of the fact-finding group is for the time being the only practical step of the government towards a dialogue. Harutiunyan stated likely to participate in the group regardless the decision of the opposition. He will participate but he says without the opposition the group will stop being the framework that is needed. Harutiunyan has not considered any candidate for his representative but he says that this responsible decision will be made soon. Armen Harutiunyan says it is necessary to try to work, for in case of a deadlock it is always possible to resign from the group. He says against rejecting to work from the beginning. The ombudsman stated that it is impossible to advocate human rights and democracy by avoiding responsibility. Armen Harutiunyan thinks the creation of a structure based on parity is even belated, and it could have been set up simultaneously with the ad-hoc parliamentary commission. Nevertheless, the ombudsman stated that the creation of the fact-finding group is for the time being the only practical step of the government towards a dialogue. He also thinks that if the opposition refuses to participate in the fact-finding group it will make a mistake. “I think that it is right to start a process based on this idea,” said Hartiunyan.
