Armenia’s government frequently evokes the importance of European values. Yet, nearly five years after the country signed up to reform commitments under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), Armenia has undergone turbulent processes which put into question its ability to translate the values agenda in reality. In 2011 the country is still reeling from the events around the disputed 2008 elections, following which excessive use of force by the police resulted in ten deaths. Subsequent crackdowns on political dissent, including the emergence of political prisoners for the first time since the country’s independence divided society and have undermined the present government’s legitimacy. Armenia’s media environment remains largely controlled, despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a major independent channel should be allowed to compete under fair circumstances for licensing, whilst new rules on digitalisation threaten to further reduce media pluralism. Judges, over whose selection the President still has executive privilege, do not always act independently, and concerns remain about the extent to which political and economic power are still fused in the country, with the result that monopolies are commonplace and corruption continues to be a major problem.
With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2012, what are the prospects for polls to be conducted peacefully and in line with international standards? What priority steps should Armenia take to advance on its reform agenda under the ENP and Eastern Partnership? And what role can the EU play in helping Armenia to turn its rhetoric on values into reality?
Speakers
- Boris Navarsadian, Yerevan Press Club
- Siranush Sahakyan, Protection of Rights Without Borders
- Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center
- Jacqueline Hale, Open Society Foundations (moderator)
Location
Eurocities
Square Meeûs 1
B-1000 Brussels
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