OSCE Special Envoy calls for political dialogue to defuse crisis in Armenia
Press release 73/2008
4 February, 2008
Talvitie was sent to Yerevan by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, on Sunday 2 March to seek ways to defuse the political crisis.
"I note that demonstrations were held peacefully for 10 days following the 19 February presidential election. However, the events on Saturday 1 March, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, were very serious and tragic," he said before returning to Helsinki.
"That the OSCE Chairman-in-Office sent me to Armenia immediately following Saturday’s events shows that he is seriously concerned. He is deeply troubled about the deaths and injuries that have occurred," he added. He also urged authorities to thoroughly investigate what happened on 1 March. Those responsible for illegal acts should be brought to justice.
"We need political dialogue to find a way forward, and such a dialogue is not possible as long as the state of emergency remains in place," he said. “Political dialogue can only be meaningful if it is an inclusive process that involves all political forces.” He noted that the Constitutional Court had been convened to consider complaints about the outcome of the presidential election.
Talvitie said the OSCE was ready to support Armenia as it seeks to create conditions that would enable a normalisation of the situation.
"As pointed out by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office during his recent visit to Armenia, dialogue and co-operation are the hallmarks of the OSCE. Once again, we call on all sides to make effective use of these tools to resolve the challenges facing Armenia," he said.
During his three-day visit, Talvitie met with President Robert Kocharian, President-elect Serge Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Oskanyan, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and other opposition leaders as well as civil society representatives.
Further information: Aleksi Harkonen, Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 9 1605 5496, +358 400 330 406; Päivi Peltokoski, First Secretary, Finlands's OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 40 578 6096