YEREVAN. - Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Argo Avakov met with the Deputy Head of Armenian Police Vardan Yeghiazaryan on August 18 to discuss the developments related to the seizure of Erebuni police station on July 17. He noted that the OSCE Office in Yerevan is ready to help the Armenian authorities and civil society to strengthen the confidence and cooperation between the police and society.

Ambassador Avakov informed the police representative about the OSCE stance on the reforms in the security area. In the framework of the reforms, it is planned to foster the cooperation between the civil society and authorities and provide support in carrying out independent monitoring and strengthening of control mechanisms.

Avakov also referred to the Office’s initiative to set up a Civil Society Advisory Council, which will serve as an advisory body in the area of security reforms. Specifically touching on the work of the police, the Ambassador described the OSCE initiatives, which can foster direct dialogue between the police, civil society and wide public on such issues as maintaining public order and exercise of the freedom of assembly.

For his part, Deputy Head of Police Vardan Yeghiazaryan suggested organizing police-mass media round tables to improve the relations of the police with the representatives of media and civil society.  The Office representatives noted that some of the concerns raised by the representatives of the civil society during the previous round-table discussions regarding the actions of the police during assemblies have unfortunately remained unresolved.

The Office thus proposed the police to take into account the issues raised and prepare recommendations and solutions as a result of the discussions to improve maintaining of the public order.

Ambassador Avakov offered his condolences on the death of the policemen killed during the riot and highly appreciated the professionalism of the negotiators, who prevented the loss of lives of the hostages and the gunmen in the police station. He also welcomed the actions launched towards investigating the improper conduct and violence charges of the police against journalist and protestors during the recent rallies.

Avakov also stressed that the best OSCE practice supposes that not only the police forces, but also the law enforcement authorities and prison services should be subject to independent monitoring systems with transparent internal regulation and public complaints procedure.