On September 17 the National Assembly continued the work of the regular four- day sittings and adopted by voting all the bills, debated the previous day, after which Mr. Samvel Nikoyan, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan and their Reasons, continued the presentation of the report of the committee, which was begun at September 16 sitting of the National Assembly.

Mr. Samvel Nikoyan touched upon some special means, applied during the March events.

The committee concluded that professional policemen should serve in the police. There was a touch upon the “home arrest” of Mr. Levon Ter Petrosyan, first President of the Republic of Armenia and the issue that the state Defense service of the Republic of Armenia had not protected his security. In this connection the committee considers that during those events it was impossible to guarantee the security of any one, but he is sure that in the created situation in the aspect of morality, Mr. Levon Ter Petrosyan should not have listened to the arguments of the state security, but he should have visited the demonstrators. The committee considers that he would have prevented the further developments; using the influence he had on the demonstrators.

Touching upon the death circumstances of the sacrificed 10 persons, Mr. Nikoyan said that the issue was not closed, and that the preliminary investigation body should continue its work. Mr. Nikoyan said that neither the preliminary investigative body nor the committee can name the killers of those 10 persons. Mr. Nikoyan touched upon the activity of relevant state bodies, their works done and not done.

Touching upon the declared state of emergency of the second President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kocharyan, the committee concluded that in the emerged situation the president’s actions were right. They also consider that if the publication of the decree was earlier, maybe it could have prevented further development of the events.

In the last part of the report, the committee touched upon the legal, political proposals, noted those priorities, which can promote the release of social- political tension, the increase of tolerance and the prevention of further similar events.

After the speech Mr. Nikoyan answered the MPs’ questions.

Touching upon the expressed speeches, Mr. Nikoyan, chairman of the Ad - hoc committee said that Mr. Davit Shahnazaryan and Mr. Levon Zurabyan, opposition representatives were invited to the committee for clarifications, but they refused to participate in the work of the committee. Mr. Levon Ter Petrosyan and Mr. Robert Kocharyan, previous Presidents of the Republic of Armenia were also invited to the committee, but they both did not accept the invitation. Mr. Nikoyan touched upon the special opinion, presented adjunct to the report, which were presented by members of the Ad- hoc committee, Mr. Artyush Shahbazyan and Mr. Artsvik Minasyan, members of the ARF faction. According to Mr. Nikoyan more gentle opinion is expressed towards some phenomena than the committee presented in its report. Mr. Nikoyan expressed regret that the opposition did not participate in the works of the committee.

Mr. Aram Harutyunyan, Mr. Gurgen Arsenyan and dozens of MPs presented their views, related to the debated report.

Mr. Viktor Dallakyan, MP, noting the great work done by the committee, expressed hope that a number of constitutional amendments are needed for the prevention of further development of similar events and those amendments were presented to the parliament.

Ms. Larisa Alaverdyan, MP, refusing to praise the work of the committee, expressed hope that Mr. Robert Kocharyan, second President of the Republic of Armenia, had a role for such development of the events. According to Ms. Alaverdyan there are indirect facts in the record, which show that the facts and conclusions contradict each other.

The MP Vardan Khachatryan touching upon the March events, said that although 1,5 years are passed, the public still lives under the shadow of those events.

Mr. Gagik Minasyan, MP, noted in his speech that the Ad-hoc committee presented a balanced report, where Mr. Nokoyan made a great contribution.

Mr. Artak Davtyan believes that the committee realized the functions facing it.

Touching upon the omissions and shortcomings, recorded in the police, Mr. Davit Harutyunyan, MP, highly praised the work, done by the committee. According to Mr. Harutyunyan the page of the March events is not closed and after the debate of the report it should be decided what steps should be taken to abolish the omissions. Touching upon the non-revelation of death circumstances of those sacrificed 10 persons; Mr. Harutyunyan said that revelation cannot be expected from the committee as it was not authorized by investigator licenses.

Then the debates were continued in the extraordinary session, which was convened according to Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia on the initiative of the MPs, by the signed decision of Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

Mr. Eduard Sharmazanov, MP, praising the unbiased work of the committee, highlighted Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan’s contribution in that issue.

Mr. Armen Martirosyan, presenting the view of the Heritage faction, called for those guilty for the March I to be held to account. He considers that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia could not provide the security of the country, which led to tragic events.

Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan presented the view of the ARF faction. The head of the faction stressed that taking advantage of the people’s fair dissatisfaction, the enemies of democracy tried to capture power. In this Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan considers the steps taken by the authorities to be deficient and not professional. According to Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan either the guilty actions of the authorities or of the opposition are fairly expressed in the final conclusion of the report and given balanced assessments. He also considers that a monitoring group should be set up for controlling the realization of the proposals in the conclusion.

Mr. Aram Safaryan, presenting the view of the PAP faction noted that the committee had worked fairly and transparently, presented a necessary and useful document for the public. According to him, the document could have been more productive, if the opposition also participated in the works of the committee.

Mr. Galust Sahakyan, Head of the faction RPA stressed that the March 1 events were  attempts to capture power. He said that for the tragic events the participants were held to account, whereas the provocateurs should have to be held to account. Mr. Galust Sahakyan stressed that the committee worked within the framework of its authorities, presenting comprehensive conclusion.

RA NA President Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan gave an extraordinary speech.

Dear deputies,

Since yesterday, we have started the discussion of the conclusion of the RA NA Ad-hoc Inquiry Committee on the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan and Their Reasons . Today in this hall we were the witness of different opinions often controversial. I have often been the supporter of open and public discussion of any, even most painful issues. However, listening to certain speeches and interpellations, I got the impression that even a tragedy for certain persons may become means of speculation and adaptation to their own political interests. This is absolutely unacceptable and refutable approach. Indeed, unfortunately, we could not escape the painful events of March 1, and here we all have our portion of guilt. Moreover, we all have to come to certain conclusions both the government and the opposition not to allow ever the repetition of similar events.

As NA President, I declare with full confidence that the government has accepted his portion of responsibility, has drawn most serious conclusions, and made clear-cut steps and actions to exclude in future the repetition of similar events. Meanwhile, the opposition who long ago before the presidential elections had their predetermined assessment, that is the elections are falsified and not legitimated which they have fixed later in many of their actions, unfortunately not accepting a big portion of their guilt and responsibility. Moreover, they refused to participate in the works of the Ad-hoc Committee to be able to make preliminary planned big noise today.

I am not willing to revert to the declarations of radical opposition and its leader’s appeal to root out and destroy everything, which clearly were aimed at provoking enmity and hatred among certain sections of community, as all this is presented in detail and with concrete references in the Ad-hoc Committee conclusion. 

Meanwhile I want to remind you that after presidential elections in the meeting called in the Republic Square, President Serzh Sargsyan appealed to all political forces for tolerance and cooperation, to destroy the wall of intolerance and misunderstanding, as we simply had no right to have a disrupted society. However, it was evident that the dialogue could not have been on the political agenda of the radical opposition and its leader who have thoroughly occupied Liberty Square. Ten days running the opposition keeping a certain section of the society in the non-privileged meeting in Liberty Square making use of natural and in many questions acceptable complaints of people consistently were stirring up enmity and intolerance.

In its conclusion the Ad-hoc Committee thoroughly touched upon the clear chronology of the events, which was already presented to us.

The committee has made indeed rather serious and detailed work and I as NA President express my gratitude to the committee Chairman, all members who being responsible only to their conscience tried to present an unbiased and impartial conclusion. Moreover, when certain public structures or leaders of radical opposition are displeased with that conclusion I consider it quite normal.

The Committee’s task was not to satisfy the wish of the authorities and opposition slurring over some facts and some events, but to give clear answers to clear questions set before them by the parliament. Answers, which will be acceptable and exhaustive for the wide layers of society, society which has right to get exhaustive and impartial answers, as we are accountable before our people and our citizens.

I do not find irrelevant to remind once more the tasks that were set before the parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee by our own decision that is to give conclusion, firstly on violence that occurred, as well as on legality and proportionality of police activity. Secondly verify in what circumstances people died and thirdly to present proposals concerning political, juridical and other solutions excluding repetition of similar events.

Here are the clear-cut tasks, which were set before the Ad-hoc Committee by all of us. Being acquainted with the conclusion I think you will agree that the committee mainly managed to give unbiased and exhaustive answers to the tasks set before them. The most problematic and worrying question for the society eventually is the following: whose actions are responsible for the victims, which the committee was not able to answer, as it could not undertake the authorities of preliminary investigatory body, which according to criminal judicial legislation is exclusively reserved for preliminary investigatory body.              

Today, from this tribune I once more present my condolences to all relatives of the victims and agree with the conclusion of the Ad-hoc Committee that the preliminary investigatory body regularly has to give information concerning the circumstances of ten persons’ deaths particularly in the future works of revealing and making answerable the guilty.

All of us should have only one target to do our best not to ever allow repetition of similar events. In this sense, I consider important political, judicial and other proposals made by the committee excluding the repetition of the March 1 events of 2008. I especially consider remarkable the committee’s proposals concerning the implementation of constant observation.

Dear deputies, for our countries democratic future it is actually important to turn the page of the March 1 events with honor and dignity. Certainly, it is impossible to proofread or edit history, whether white or black is our history, from which we have to draw conclusions not to ever repeat mistakes of the past. The steps made by the political power of our country after March 1 tragedy to reduce inter political tension and create an atmosphere of tolerance are obvious. Moreover, in PACE last 1677 resolution it is clearly recorded noting both serious amendments made in the Criminal Code and amnesty declared by the President of the country. To say that we have solved all problems will not be sincere and trustworthy. However, not to see what the authorities are doing, headed by RA President to overcome the March 1 crisis and start a new page is also unjust.

Going through the pages of our history, we become persuaded that our intolerance had been the reason for all our problems. I once more call on for tolerance and solidarity as only being united, we can overcome all challenges from which no country has avoided during its history.

Thank you”.

In his closing speech touching upon two days concerned discussions, the Chairman of the NA Ad-hoc Inquiry Committee on the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan and Their Reasons Mr. Samvel Nikoyan underlined that the committee work was complicated particularly because of splitting of our society, which is impossible to perceive the truth by the community. He once more emphasized that it would be correct for the opposition to present its proposals in the committee’s works as well. The Chairman of the Committee expressed his gratitude to RA NA President for the support given to the committee, colleagues and experts for their joint work. He is sure that the March 1 page is closed for those who do not wish its repetition and is open for those who strive for its repetition.

The four-day sittings and the extraordinary sitting exhausting the agendas finished its works.