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POLICY, TRICK OR A POLITICAL BARGAIN?
[04:06 pm] 23 November, 2006
Today the guests of the `Hayely’ club were politician
Levon Zaroubyan, Rouben Hovsepyan, member of
Dashnaktsutyun Party and Paruyr Hairikyan, leader of
the Union of National Self-Determination.
`The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is but a
moral category. The worst point is that the acting
administration shifted the genocide issue into the
political sphere. Thus, it became a theme of political
debates and political bargain’, maintains Levon
Zaroubyan.
His opponent Mr. Hovsepyan noted, `Morality has no
place in this world, and it is inadmissible when the
authorities do nothing in connection with the
recognition of the massacre and build museums or
convene symposiums instead’.
Prior to Mr. Hovsepyan’s remark on museums, Levon
Zaroubyan had announced that their administration took
serious measures in view of the genocide recognition.
They have initiated their policy since 1991. The
Genocide Museum was opened in 1995 and the first
summit was convened with the participation of genocide
experts.
At that moment Paruyr Hairikyan entered the debate. He
said that the UNO has launched the recognition of the
Genocide since 1987 and our authorities could do
nothing on this score.
Mr. Hairikyan assumes that the criminal mustn’t be
sent for and asked whether he has committed any crime;
he must be immediately punished.
The leader of the Union of National Self-Determination
the authorities find the recognition of the Genocide a
game with their participation.
«Is there a law in Armenia under which the refuters of
the Genocide will be punished».
Levon Zaroubyan says that the current authorities use
the issue for two objectives; first of all they want
to divert people’s attention from many social,
political issues, and secondly, they want to enjoy the
votes of the Diaspora during the elections.
While speaking of the tendencies of the recognition
procedure, MR. Hovsepyan said that the procedure
lingers as the countries which were supposed to
recognise the Armenian Genocide have already done it
whereas the others are waiting for the USA’s final
decision.
As for the Turkey’s membership to the European Union,
Mr. Zaroubyan said that Turkey’s chances are few. But
Turkey’s membership is favorable for Armenia as we
shall have a predictable neighbour and a borderline
with the EU in that case.
By the way, Mr. Hovsepyan mentioned that when the EU
declares that its `doors are not open for everyone’ it
means not only Turkey, but also the countries of South
Caucasus, including Armenia.
On this score, Mr. Hairikyan said that the EU is first
of all a system of values; if you don’t accept this
system, you have no chance of membership.