RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: ARMENIA HAS ENTERED A STAGE VERY DANGEROUS FOR IT
NOYAN TAPAN
JU LY 8
Armenia has entered a stage very dangerous for it, when deficit
of democracy in the country has an immediate impact on foreign
relations. Raffi Hovannisian, the Chairman of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) party, gave assurance at the July 7 press conference. "I
have suspended my participation in PACE sessions until the moment
Armenia meets even if the minimum requirements of democracy," the
deputy stated. According to him, henceforth it will not be possible
to veil the domestic problems and at the same time to respond to
foreign challenges.
According to R. Hovannisian, Armenia through its parliamentary
delegation in PACE used all its possibilities to make the resolution
regarding it a little more admissible. While problems of foreign
relations, in particular, the Artsakh problem, are in a state of
neglect. "If we passed the examination of democracy, we would be
able to realize that energy by ensuring Armenian view’s victory in
the Azeri and other resolutions," he said.
R. Hovannisian considered inadmissible the attempt in the resolution
regarding Azerbaijan to present the problem of territorial integrity as
an obstacle for democratization. "Armenia was deprived of its homeland,
it experienced the Genocide, but I demand that Armenia not to have any
occasion for not passing the democracy examination," he stated. The
Zharangutiun leader considers that the Council of Europe and other
organizations should equally use their own standards to all countries.
Touching upon the statement of PACE Chairwoman Luis Maria de Puig
made in Baku that Nagorno Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan and has been
occupied by Armenia, R. Hovannisian said that during her visit to
Armenia next week he will ask her what are the bases of her conviction.
Speaking about the agreement between Moscow and Baku signed lately, R.
Hovannisian expressed bewilderment with establishment of strategic
partnership between the two countries.