22:00, 27 August 2010

Hilary Clinton notes active civil society in Armenia

Reforms in the spheres of human rights and democracy are crucial for Armenia; and the country has its active civil society, ready to address these fundamental issues, says Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, in her letter to Armenian human rights defenders.

In the course of Ms Clinton's visit to Armenia on July 5, Armenian rights defenders gave her a letter stating the need to release all political prisoners, hold a fair investigation of the dispersal of oppositional actions on March 1, 2008, and put an end to persecutions and torture.

The response letter of the US State Secretary Hilary Clinton to rights defenders notes that "the USA remain committed to go on working with the government and people of Armenia towards joint goals in the region, including peace and stability, democracy and economic prosperity."

During her visit to Armenia, Ms Clinton had a meeting with 25 activists from civil and public organizations. During the meeting, the State Secretary raised, among other issues, the problem of the freedom of speech in Armenia.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent