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DIPLOMATIC SOURCE: ARMENIA'S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE BESMIRCHED BY INTERNAL POLITICAL TIFF OVER
by Marianna Lazarian
Thursday, March 5, 14:22
The recent domestic policy events that have turned into a severe
confrontation between RA President Serzh Sargsyan and "Prosperous
Armenia Party" (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan, who has become apolitical,
have affected Armenia's international image. All this has had its
effect on the events arranged to the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide, a senior official of the diplomatic corps told the ArmInfo.
According to him, the internal squabbles, that are unacceptable for
the western perception, have become the reason for several European
countries and organizations to review their participation in the
events. They have lowered the ceremonial level of the delegations
to Armenia. According to the source, the domestic policy events have
given cause for reflection that the internal issues of the Armenian
establishment appeared to be more important than the future events.
"If Armenia is not interested in its international image on the
threshold of such an important event, then why should the international
community attach much significance to it? Europe wants to see an intact
and united Armenia where political powers are competing within the
framework of political developments, but not fall under black and
white and destroy each other", said the diplomat.
However, he stressed that after the conciliation between Sargsyan
and Tsarukyan the situation has improved a little. He hinted that the
conciliation did not shift itself without international mediation. In
that context, the diplomat expressed his hope for the possibility to
return to previously-made higher level arrangements concerning the
visits to events dedicated to the centennial of the Genocide.
In this context, it is notable to mention the letter addressed to
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Anne
Brasseur on behalf of the PAP deputies. In the letter the latter begged
PACE to support the party in its dark times. It is particularly said
in the letter that PAP was oppressed by the Armenian government and
the President threatened party leader Gagik Tsarukyan to denude him of
his political rights. There were also tax inspections at Tsarukyan's
enterprises and Tsarukyan was removed from the Council of National
Security. It was stressed in the letter that the reason was PAP's
refusal to favor Sargsyan's constitutional reforms the aim of which
was to extend the ruling regime's time in office.
In the February 18 follow-up letter Brasseur mentioned that such
methods of political struggle are inappropriate for democratic
countries. She said that she would raise the issue upon her visit
to Armenia for the events arranged to the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide.
It is notable that after the Tsarukyan-Sargsyan conciliation, the PAP
members stopped the talks about oppressions and did not officially
publish the letters.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=F113A730-C329-11E4-AFD40EB7C0D21663
by Marianna Lazarian
Thursday, March 5, 14:22
The recent domestic policy events that have turned into a severe
confrontation between RA President Serzh Sargsyan and "Prosperous
Armenia Party" (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan, who has become apolitical,
have affected Armenia's international image. All this has had its
effect on the events arranged to the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide, a senior official of the diplomatic corps told the ArmInfo.
According to him, the internal squabbles, that are unacceptable for
the western perception, have become the reason for several European
countries and organizations to review their participation in the
events. They have lowered the ceremonial level of the delegations
to Armenia. According to the source, the domestic policy events have
given cause for reflection that the internal issues of the Armenian
establishment appeared to be more important than the future events.
"If Armenia is not interested in its international image on the
threshold of such an important event, then why should the international
community attach much significance to it? Europe wants to see an intact
and united Armenia where political powers are competing within the
framework of political developments, but not fall under black and
white and destroy each other", said the diplomat.
However, he stressed that after the conciliation between Sargsyan
and Tsarukyan the situation has improved a little. He hinted that the
conciliation did not shift itself without international mediation. In
that context, the diplomat expressed his hope for the possibility to
return to previously-made higher level arrangements concerning the
visits to events dedicated to the centennial of the Genocide.
In this context, it is notable to mention the letter addressed to
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Anne
Brasseur on behalf of the PAP deputies. In the letter the latter begged
PACE to support the party in its dark times. It is particularly said
in the letter that PAP was oppressed by the Armenian government and
the President threatened party leader Gagik Tsarukyan to denude him of
his political rights. There were also tax inspections at Tsarukyan's
enterprises and Tsarukyan was removed from the Council of National
Security. It was stressed in the letter that the reason was PAP's
refusal to favor Sargsyan's constitutional reforms the aim of which
was to extend the ruling regime's time in office.
In the February 18 follow-up letter Brasseur mentioned that such
methods of political struggle are inappropriate for democratic
countries. She said that she would raise the issue upon her visit
to Armenia for the events arranged to the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide.
It is notable that after the Tsarukyan-Sargsyan conciliation, the PAP
members stopped the talks about oppressions and did not officially
publish the letters.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=F113A730-C329-11E4-AFD40EB7C0D21663