ARA ABRAHAMIAN: ARMENIA SHOULD COOPERATE WITH DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no problem of political
or economic character in relations between Armenia and Russia. Ara
Abrahamian, Chairman of the Union of Armenians in Russia, Chairman of
the World Armenian Congress (WAC), said this at the November 20 meeting
with journalists at the Union of Writers of Armenia. In his words,
"Armenia should cooperate with different countries of the world, but
not at the expense of Russia, not to the detriment of its relations
with Russia." According to A.Abrahamian’s observations, the West
wishes to create an atmosphere to contribute to "Armenia’s stepping
back from Russia." "We should realize, whether it proceeds from our
interests to step back from Russia," he declared. In A.Abrahamian’s
words, to break off contacts is easy, but to establish is difficult
and before renouncing Russia it is necessary to discuss the new
partners’ proposals.

Commenting upon the fact of Armenians’ murders committed lately
in Russia, A.Abrahamian said that they do not have an emphasized
anti-Armenian character: "They kill Armenians not for their
national belonging, but due to the color of their hair and other
circumstances." He assured that five minutes after each incident he
is informed about the details, discusses the formed situation with
Armenian lawyers, gets in touch with representatives of law enforcement
bodies and tries to draw their special attention to the incident.

Touching upon the murder of Artur Haroutiunian, Head of the Union
of Armenians in Murmansk, A.Abrahamian said that it is still early
to draw a conclusion and they should wait until the law enforcement
bodies disclose those guilty. He did not exclude that the murder can
be connected with A.Haroutiunian’s business activity.