ACCORDING TO KIRO MANOYAN, THERE ARE POLITICAL CALCULATIONS IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S POSITION TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Jan 19, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "There are political calculations in
Council of Europe’s position to Armenia," Kiro Manoyan, the Responsible
Person of ARFD Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office, stated at the
January 19 press conference. According to him, Council of Europe wants
to exert pressure upon Armenia for the latter to renounce complementary
foreign policy. As to PACE’s proper demands, according to K. Manoyan,
they should be fulfilled not only to please Council of Europe, but
also because there is a public demand. "PACE’s estimation to our
country is subjective and is not based on purely the quality of our
fulfilling our commitments. Otherwise sanctions would be also used
to other Council of Europe member-countries," K. Manoyan said.

Touching upon the second anniversary of murder of Agos newspaper’s
editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, the ARFD representative reminded his words
that the criterion of Turkey’s improval will be the adoption of the
fact of Armenian Genocide. K. Manoyan also said that the American
Armenian community has sent a letter to newly elected U.S. President
Barack Obama calling him for keeping his preelection promise and
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

As the ARFD figure predicted it, B. Obama will do it in the coming
months.

Drawing parallels between the democracy extent of Armenia and Turkey,
K. Manoyan stated that Turkey is a more totalitarian state. In response
to journalists’ observation that elections are periodically rigged
in Armenia K. Manoyan stated that instead people are punished for
the word "genocide" in Turkey.