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Vazgen Manookian: At Present NATO Membership May Be Harmful For Arme

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  • Vazgen Manookian: At Present NATO Membership May Be Harmful For Arme

    VAZGEN MANOUKIAN: AT PRESENT NATO MEMBERSHIP MAY BE HARMFUL FOR ARMENIA
    By Agavni Haroutiunian

    AZG Armenian Daily
    14/02/2008

    Foreign Policy

    The Presidential Candidate Vazgen Manoukian made this statement in
    the course of the press conference at the Armenian Center for Trans-
    Atlantic Initiatives on February 12. In particular, he said that in
    the visible future Armenia should not consider joining NATO, since
    it will not enhance our security and will spoil our relations with
    Iran and Russia instead.

    As for the improvement of the relations with Turkey within the
    framework of NATO membership, Vazgen Manoukian brought the example
    of Turkey and Cyprus, two NATO member countries that unfolded a war
    against each other. Vazgen Manoukian says he respects NATO and is for
    close cooperation with this organization but membership is wrong, he
    thinks. Vazgen Manoukian says in ten years this issue may be solved
    automatically or become absolutely moot.

    In response to the question whether there is a big geopolitical game
    in the region, and if he admits, what role he thinks Armenia performs
    in this game, the presidential candidate said our region up to the
    Persian Gulf is one of the most unstable regions. He reminded that
    in NATO's analyses dating from the 1960s our region was viewed as
    the most likely hotbed of World War III. Vazgen Manoukian says if
    the local peoples do not promote integration, create a common space,
    naturally the great powers should become involved in the game.

    In this context, Armenia performs an important role which is both
    good and bad, Vazgen Manoukian believes.

    According to Vazgen Manoukian, it is good if Armenia has created
    a modern effective system of settlement of internal problems, and
    realizes its goals, and it is bad if there is no such system and the
    goals are uncertain.

    Vazgen Manoukian also thinks the countries of our region should
    promote integration to rule out alien military presence. In that case,
    he thinks, Armenia's military dependence on Russia will weaken.

    As for the expected developments in the coming presidential elections,
    the presidential candidate first said in case of a fair election
    the government candidate cannot win in one round because he lacks
    the resource. Vazgen Manoukian also rules out the victory of any
    candidate of the opposition, and thinks such announcements are clear
    bluffing. He thinks nobody's rating is above 20 percent, therefore
    the main candidates will most probably get equal votes.

    As to the second round, the presidential candidate says one of the
    representatives of the opposition will run in the second round, and
    the opposition candidate will win the second round if the opposition
    comes together around him. As to who the likely candidate from the
    opposition is, Vazgen Manoukian declines to tell.
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