VAZGEN MANOUKIAN: AT PRESENT NATO MEMBERSHIP MAY BE HARMFUL FOR ARMENIA
By Agavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/02/2008

Foreign Policy

The Presidential Candidate Vazgen Manoukian made this statement in
the course of the press conference at the Armenian Center for Trans-
Atlantic Initiatives on February 12. In particular, he said that in
the visible future Armenia should not consider joining NATO, since
it will not enhance our security and will spoil our relations with
Iran and Russia instead.

As for the improvement of the relations with Turkey within the
framework of NATO membership, Vazgen Manoukian brought the example
of Turkey and Cyprus, two NATO member countries that unfolded a war
against each other. Vazgen Manoukian says he respects NATO and is for
close cooperation with this organization but membership is wrong, he
thinks. Vazgen Manoukian says in ten years this issue may be solved
automatically or become absolutely moot.

In response to the question whether there is a big geopolitical game
in the region, and if he admits, what role he thinks Armenia performs
in this game, the presidential candidate said our region up to the
Persian Gulf is one of the most unstable regions. He reminded that
in NATO’s analyses dating from the 1960s our region was viewed as
the most likely hotbed of World War III. Vazgen Manoukian says if
the local peoples do not promote integration, create a common space,
naturally the great powers should become involved in the game.

In this context, Armenia performs an important role which is both
good and bad, Vazgen Manoukian believes.

According to Vazgen Manoukian, it is good if Armenia has created
a modern effective system of settlement of internal problems, and
realizes its goals, and it is bad if there is no such system and the
goals are uncertain.

Vazgen Manoukian also thinks the countries of our region should
promote integration to rule out alien military presence. In that case,
he thinks, Armenia’s military dependence on Russia will weaken.

As for the expected developments in the coming presidential elections,
the presidential candidate first said in case of a fair election
the government candidate cannot win in one round because he lacks
the resource. Vazgen Manoukian also rules out the victory of any
candidate of the opposition, and thinks such announcements are clear
bluffing. He thinks nobody’s rating is above 20 percent, therefore
the main candidates will most probably get equal votes.

As to the second round, the presidential candidate says one of the
representatives of the opposition will run in the second round, and
the opposition candidate will win the second round if the opposition
comes together around him. As to who the likely candidate from the
opposition is, Vazgen Manoukian declines to tell.