DASHNAKTSUTYUN DISSATISFIED OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S PASSIVENESS
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
19 Sep 2008
Armenia
Member of ARFD bureau, Head of ARFD parliamentary faction Vahan
Hovhannisyan met with the journalists in the National Press Club,
yesterday.
According to the speaker the recent developments in South Caucasus over
again proved that: "It is impossible to solve issues in our region
by force. And, in my view, everyone understood this. This lesson was
mainly addressed to Azerbaijan and its supporters. It was a lesson
for us as well, to understand that we shouldn't pin our hopes upon
Georgia only. That we need alternative roads, and the best option is
the railway taking to Iran.
Another alternative road can be Turkey. But there is a serious doubt
whether or not the border will open. What are the conditions? And do
we need this road at cost of such conditions? And even if it opens,
it can close one day and it can't be a stable factor for us."
Vahan Hovhannisyan says the co-Chairmen have appeared in such a
situation, when all the three of them have already recognized the
independence of a separated territory. Two of them - the USA and
France have recognized Kosovo's independence and Russia has recognized
Abkhazia's and South Osatia's independence. This means there is
no taboo on the recognition of the independence of the separated
territories. The international community must draw a conclusion
from this fact and shouldn't contrast the principles of territorial
integrity and national sovereignty.
Vahan Hovhannisyan over again confirmed that there are no disagreements
regarding the foreign policy inside the coalition: "Dashnaktsutyun is
against Turkey's mediation in the settlement of Karabakh conflict. But
not only Dashnaktsutyun is against it. I don't know any political
force or political figure in Armenia that is inspired of Turkey's
policy of supporting Azerbaijan. All the Armenians are against any
form of Turkey's mediation in the settlement of the conflict."
According to ARFD representative the President took a rather brave
step and tried to prove to the world and the international community
that Armenia and Armenian people are ready to take steps in order to
establish friendly relations with this neighbor. But we are really
concerned about the fact that after this step Turkey's propaganda
machine became more active. It is clear that by Gyul's visit they
want to stop the process of the recognition of Armenian Genocide. "One
thing is not clear for me. Why don't we express our official attitude
towards these propaganda tricks?
I know that the Turks haven't come to an agreement with our President
about stopping the process of the recognition of Armenian Genocide
or about concessions20in Karabakh conflict. In my view it is the
manifestation of passiveness that is very often noticed in our foreign
policy," Vahan Hovhannisyan noted.
In response to the questions of the journalists the latter refuted
the version that the protest marches organized by Dashnaktsutyun
during Gyul's visit are part of the pro-governmental policy. "It is
a wrong viewpoint. It is based on the conviction that in our country
everything is implemented after an "ok". Maybe there are certain Mass
Media that express their opinion only after they are "ok-ed". But
Dashnaktsutyun usually does what we consider the right thing to do."
There were lots of questions regarding the resignation of the
Speaker of Parliament Tigran Torosyan and the developments taking
place inside the Republican Party. The Head of Dashnaktsutyun's
parliamentary faction reminded that before the implementation of the
reforms many people used to complain that the parliament is very weak,
that it hasn't got necessary competencies and can't be an adequate
counterbalance for the executive.
The constitutional reforms gave this possibility, but for this the
National Assembly needs professional skills and a decisive and brave
Speaker. So the country's President thinks that we must improve one
of those components."
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
19 Sep 2008
Armenia
Member of ARFD bureau, Head of ARFD parliamentary faction Vahan
Hovhannisyan met with the journalists in the National Press Club,
yesterday.
According to the speaker the recent developments in South Caucasus over
again proved that: "It is impossible to solve issues in our region
by force. And, in my view, everyone understood this. This lesson was
mainly addressed to Azerbaijan and its supporters. It was a lesson
for us as well, to understand that we shouldn't pin our hopes upon
Georgia only. That we need alternative roads, and the best option is
the railway taking to Iran.
Another alternative road can be Turkey. But there is a serious doubt
whether or not the border will open. What are the conditions? And do
we need this road at cost of such conditions? And even if it opens,
it can close one day and it can't be a stable factor for us."
Vahan Hovhannisyan says the co-Chairmen have appeared in such a
situation, when all the three of them have already recognized the
independence of a separated territory. Two of them - the USA and
France have recognized Kosovo's independence and Russia has recognized
Abkhazia's and South Osatia's independence. This means there is
no taboo on the recognition of the independence of the separated
territories. The international community must draw a conclusion
from this fact and shouldn't contrast the principles of territorial
integrity and national sovereignty.
Vahan Hovhannisyan over again confirmed that there are no disagreements
regarding the foreign policy inside the coalition: "Dashnaktsutyun is
against Turkey's mediation in the settlement of Karabakh conflict. But
not only Dashnaktsutyun is against it. I don't know any political
force or political figure in Armenia that is inspired of Turkey's
policy of supporting Azerbaijan. All the Armenians are against any
form of Turkey's mediation in the settlement of the conflict."
According to ARFD representative the President took a rather brave
step and tried to prove to the world and the international community
that Armenia and Armenian people are ready to take steps in order to
establish friendly relations with this neighbor. But we are really
concerned about the fact that after this step Turkey's propaganda
machine became more active. It is clear that by Gyul's visit they
want to stop the process of the recognition of Armenian Genocide. "One
thing is not clear for me. Why don't we express our official attitude
towards these propaganda tricks?
I know that the Turks haven't come to an agreement with our President
about stopping the process of the recognition of Armenian Genocide
or about concessions20in Karabakh conflict. In my view it is the
manifestation of passiveness that is very often noticed in our foreign
policy," Vahan Hovhannisyan noted.
In response to the questions of the journalists the latter refuted
the version that the protest marches organized by Dashnaktsutyun
during Gyul's visit are part of the pro-governmental policy. "It is
a wrong viewpoint. It is based on the conviction that in our country
everything is implemented after an "ok". Maybe there are certain Mass
Media that express their opinion only after they are "ok-ed". But
Dashnaktsutyun usually does what we consider the right thing to do."
There were lots of questions regarding the resignation of the
Speaker of Parliament Tigran Torosyan and the developments taking
place inside the Republican Party. The Head of Dashnaktsutyun's
parliamentary faction reminded that before the implementation of the
reforms many people used to complain that the parliament is very weak,
that it hasn't got necessary competencies and can't be an adequate
counterbalance for the executive.
The constitutional reforms gave this possibility, but for this the
National Assembly needs professional skills and a decisive and brave
Speaker. So the country's President thinks that we must improve one
of those components."