ARFD AND RAMKAVAR-AZATAKAN PARTY REACH AGREEMENT OVER ISSUES OF MUCH IMPORTANCE FOR ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In spite of the ideological
difference, the ARF Dashnaktsutiun and the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party
reached agreement over a number of issues of much importance for
Armenia. Kiro Manoyan, the Director of the Hay Dat Armenian Office,
said this in his interview to journalists.

According to him, it is no use arguing over socialist or liberal
ideas, but there are issues, around which the views of the two
parties coincide. In particular, in the issues that democracy should
be strengthened in Armenia, the judicial power should be really
independent, there should not be monopolies in economy.

K. Manoyan said that after the meeting of ARFD, Ramkavar-Azatakan
Party, and Social-Democratic Hnchakian Party in April of the current
year, some work was done in the direction of organizing an inter-party
conference, the goal of which is to specify and coordinate parties’
viewpoints. Meetings among parties’ representatives were held before
the conference. The sides reached agreement over the main issues on
conference’s agenda. Artsakh and Javakhk problems, recognition of
Armenian Genocide and demands to Turkey, Armenia-Diaspora relations
were among these issues.

According to K. Manoyan, deepening of relations between the
three parties is also important in the respect of achievement of
consolidation inside the Diaspora, which is necessary for resisting the
challenges faced by the Diaspora. According to him, some communities,
for instance, the Armenian community of Lebanon, can appear in a
crisis because of an instable political situation.

Touching upon Armenia-Diaspora relations, K. Manoyan said that Armenia
is the homeland of all Armenians, and this should be stipulated by
the law.

According to him, use of the law On Dual Citizenship will not only
facilitate Diasporan Armenians’ visits to the homeland, but also will
give many people the opportunity of repatriation. There is also a
proposal to create a ministry on the issues of the Diaspora in Armenia.