NAIRA ZOHRABIAN: WE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY PACE GAME RULES
Noyan Tapan
Jan 19, 2009
YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "I am sure that Armenia’s
authorities have taken some steps we can present at the PACE January
plenary session. Whether these steps will be sufficient for not
using serious final sanctions to Armenia – I cannot say it at the
moment, nevertheless I am optimistic," Naira Zohrabian, a member
of the Armenian delegation in PACE and of the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) faction, said on January 19 in response to
journalists’ questions.
She said that it cannot be all the same for the faction whether
Armenia’s delegation will be deprived of the vote or not. "We have
joined Council of Europe of our own free will, and no one forced us
to join this structure, and if we have always accepted this system
of values, we should be guided by the game rules of this structure,"
she said.
N. Zohrabian also said that she absolutely does not agree to the
estimations of some deputies that the Armenian delegation in PACE does
not justify itself and the delegation head need to be changed. "As
a journalist following the work of former RA NA delegations in PACE
I can say that in the respect of professionals this is the most
professional delegation," she said.
As to the rumors in press that NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian is also
leaving for Strasbourg to follow PACE session’s work, N. Zohrabian said
that she is not aware of the latter’s plans at all. According to her,
the delegation will leave with its complete staff, with the exception
of Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction leader Raffi Hovannisian, who in
advance has announced his decision not to take part in session’s work.