HERITAGE, REPUBLICAN PARTY REPS SQUARE-OFF ON PRESIDENT’S DIASPORA TOUR
Natasha Harutyunyan

faryan/
2009/10/06 | 16:43

Important Politics

A heated debate between Armenian Republican Party member Karen Avagyan
and Heritage Party representative Stepan Safaryan, regarding President
Sargsyan’s tour of the diaspora took place today.

Mr. Avagyan stated that most of the protests that President Sargsyan
has so far encountered on his trip haven’t been sincere given that many
of the participants aren’t even informed about the facts contained
in the Armenian-Turkish protocols. "They have received distorted
information and believe rumors of treason, etc. How can people carry
out protests when they aren’t informed of the facts?"

In response, Mr. Safaryan said it was incorrect to claim that the
protestors are misinformed since the first powerful wave of protest
to the protocols came from the diaspora immediately on September 1
and that the protests are continuing.

"What I find most disturbing in the meetings that President Sargsyan
has had on his tour is the fact that the Armenian authorities continue
to assert that despite the protests the document will be signed. No
one has the right to say that these protest actions are purely based
on emotion," Mr Safaryan stated.

Mr. Avagyan responded by saying that given the internal problems now
confronting the Heritage Party, none of its members had the moral
right to make such bold assertions.

When asked by a reporter if the same approach applies to the Republican
Party given the fact that former parliament speaker Tigran Torosyan
has quit the party, Mr. Avagyan answered, "Nonetheless, no one from
our party has played with his parliamentary seat like the leader
of Heritage. It just isn’t right for people to go around passing
judgement on major issues without resolving their internal problems."

"You resolved the internal problems of Armenia on March 1 and now
you’ve gone on to tackle mega projects? Even though it might appear
that our party is split, looks can be deceiving. You know full well
about how and why this commotion has been raised," argued Mr. Safaryan,
adding that no one can charge the descendants of Genocide survivors
of responding emotionally to this issue.

The Heritage Party member went on to say that the fact that these
diaspora discussions aren’t being fully broadcast here in Armenia just
goes to show that President Sargsyan has met with serious opposition
above and beyond organized demonstrations.

He mentioned the fact that President Sargsyan, during his speech
yesterday, told diaspora representatives that, "You’ve brought us
two jars of preserves and no you want to make demands?" Mr. Safaryan
warned that we have now entered a period of mutual recrimination and
insult which could possibly threaten Armenia-diaspora relations.

Mr. Avagyan, citing the words of Nzhdeh, stated that those who try to
make political gain from the Genocide are the "dregs of the nation". He
failed to name names however.