Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament: The reports of US Department of State are noteworthy but there are more competent structures specializing in human rights and conflicts

Certainly, the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the US Department of State are noteworthy, but it should be noted that there are also other more competent international organizations specializing in protection of human rights and settlement of territorial conflicts, Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament, Spokesperson for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, told ArmInfo when commenting on the US State Department's assessment on the situation in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.     

Sharmazanov said that right after the presidential election in Armenia, the US President Barack Obama congratulated Serzh Sargsyan, thereby acknowledging the legitimacy of Sargsyan and the legitimacy of the electoral processes. "It is widely known that the world leaders do not congratulate the illegitimate heads of states", said Sharmazanov. He added that Obama not only congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on re-election, but also called him a leader who is capable to continue the democratic reforms in Armenia. "I think no other assessments or comments are needed here", said the Vice Speaker.      

When speaking of the provisions pointing at corruption and lack of transparency in government, a well as human rights violations in a variety of fields, Sharmazanov said that the Armenian authorities do not only admit it but are also taking relevant measures to liquidate the shortcomings. "The most important thing is that Armenia's authorities have the will and desire to solve the problems. International structures, including the EU also stress that", he said.   
As regards the chapter saying that "Separatists, with Armenia's support, continued to control most of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other Azerbaijani territories", Sharmazanov stressed that it is the statement of the US President that matters. He added that the US President is the head of a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group, the only competent organization engaged in settlement of the Karabakh problem. "Barack Obama together with the Presidents of Russia and France stressed at a summit in Northern Ireland that the parties to the Karabakh conflict should be committed to the conflict settlement on the basis of Helsinki Principles (people's right to self-determination, non use of force, territorial integrity - editor's note). That says it all", Sharmazanov said. 

To note, the 2013 Country Report on Human Rights Practices published by the US Department of State says that in Armenia the most significant human rights problems during the year were corruption and lack of transparency in government, limitations on the right of citizens to change their government, and the limited independence of the judiciary.