A1 Plus carries a new statement from the Council of Europe regarding the 27 November 2005 referendum to amend the constitution in Armenia. According to most observers, the referendum represented an all-time low in electoral falsification in Armenia, and what has been even more despicable is how the authorities have tried to make scapegoats out of a few voters rather than investigate those high level officials who were responsible for the charade that they’d like the rest of us to call “democracy.”

Thankfully, all these concerns seem to be taken seriously by the CE, but I can only hope that actions will follow these words. Unfortunately, past experience has shown that the organization soon forgets its concerns when the government instead promises to change its position on other matters. According to some analysts, a more concessionary approach to the Karabakh issue is one of those, but sooner or later patience is going to wear thin and the shit will really hit the fan.

The positive outcome of the referendum is certainly to be welcomed. But the end does not justify the means. Was it really necessary to stuff the ballot boxes and inflate the turnout artificially to get the reform through? The conclusions reached by the Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee which observed the referendum – unfortunately at only a few polling stations – and the many media and NGO reports can only cast doubt on the credibility of the official results.

[…]

Similarly, the Attorney General’s refusal to investigate specific cases of fraud, e.g. stuffing of ballot boxes and falsification of electoral registers, even though these had been publicly denounced by the President of the Armenian Parliament, can only cast doubt on the authorities’ determination to promote rule-of-law democracy. In this context, the few voters prosecuted for voting more than once seem mere scapegoats, allowing the authorities to evade their political responsibilities.

As far as the Monitoring Committee is concerned, Armenia’s implementation of the new constitutional provisions will be a major test of its political determination to bring the country genuinely closer to European values. This is a question, not just of at last adopting the legislative reforms hitherto blocked by an unsuitable Constitution, but above all of creating a political climate which will ensure that the parliamentary elections in 2007, and the presidential election in 2008, respect European standards.

This will involve strengthening all the country’s democratic institutions, by comparison with the excessive powers of the presidency, and promoting independence of the judiciary, free and pluralist functioning of the electronic media, and effective freedom of assembly, to mention only the most urgent priorities. In this connection, the controversy currently surrounding the functioning of the Ombudsman’s Office during the transition period leading up to her successor’s election by parliament does not augur well.

The Monitoring Committee now expects the Armenian authorities to produce a detailed timetable for adoption of the reforms which Armenia must complete to honour its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe.

The Monitoring Committee will continue to work for effective co-operation between the Council of Europe and Armenia in all areas where the Organisation can provide political support and technical assistance. But it will also redouble its vigilance in the coming year, to ensure that the future reforms are fully in line with the Council’s standards and requirements.

I particularly welcome reference to the dismissal of the Human Rights Ombudsperson which, along with a few other matters, does not bode well for the future. Anyway, the full statement can be read on the A1 Plus site here. Talking of which, we really need these guys back on air.