Norwegian ambassador in OSCE: "Politically motivated arrests and other forms of repression must stop and those detained must be released in Armenia"

The due announcement was made by Norway ambassador Guttorm Vik at a session of the Permanent Council of OSCE, a source from the Norway embassy to Azerbaijan told Day.Az.

He noted that Norway condemns the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators and his country is deeply troubled by the deaths and injuries that occurred during the unrest 1 March. He considers that measures must be taken urgently to create the conditions for a peaceful dialogue between the government and the opposition.

"First, the state of emergency should be lifted. A meaningful dialogue can only take place if there is freedom of assembly, freedom of political parties and freedom of the media", he noted.

Vik voiced regret about the suspension of the work of the independent media and stressed that Norway agrees with the Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr Miklos Haraszti, that the state of emergency should not be used by the government to take away the public’s right to news from diverse sources.

"Second, politically motivated arrests and other forms of repression must stop and those detained must be released. My government also agrees with Ambassador Talvitie that those who commit crimes should be prosecuted, whether they are civilians or police. There is a need for a credible, transparent investigation of the 1 March events".

G.Vik noted that Norway urges the government of Armenia to fulfill its OSCE commitments and duties to protect all of its citizens and their rights, and to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the opposition to find viable ways out of the crisis.

" We also call on the opposition parties to act peacefully and within the law, and on both sides to show restraint and to resolve their political differences within democratic institutions. Only in this way will Armenia be able to resume the process of democratic reforms", he said.

It should be noted that at a press conference held by spokesman for Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibragim voiced regret that the Norway and US Embassies did not demonstrate an adequate reaction to the events in Armenia.

/Day.Az/