NDU LEADER CALLS ON ARDARUTIUN FACTION TO PARTICIPATE IN NA DISCUSSION ON
ISSUE OF SENDING ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN TO IRAQ
YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). The December 21 meeting of
different political forces organizied by the Forum of Intelligentsia
was dedicated to discussion of the opportunities of sending Armenian
servicemen to Iraq. The leaders of National-Democratic Union, Nor
Zhamanakner (New Times) party, Constitutional Right union, Democratic
and People’s parties, Hayrenik National Front participated in the
discussion. Perch Zeytuntsian, a well-knomn writer, called on not to
consign to oblivion the assistance of the Near East countries to the
Armenians who escaped from the Genocide. “One mustn’t be ungrateful and
endanger the Diaspora. I respect pragmatism but not when it exceedes
the limits of morals. We remember about the Diaspora at the time
of telethons when its representatives allocate millions of dollars
but forget about security of our compatriots.” Rafael Ghazarian,
an academician of RA National Academy of Sciences, reminded that
10 Christian churches were blown up from the beginning of the Iraq
war: “Hundreds of thousands of Christians have already left Iraq,
can you imagine the consequences of the analogous processes in
the other countries of Near East?” Vazgen Manukian, Chairman
of National-Democratic Union, an MP, declared that the current
authorities destroy the national construction built for centuries,
which supposes unity of Armenia and Diaspora and friendly relations
with the world. V.Manukian called on the members of Ardarutiun
(Justice) faction to leave aside the boycott and come to the NA on
December 24 in order to participate in the discussion of the issue of
sending Armenian servicemen to Iraq. He called on the political forces
and intelligentsia to continue analogous discussions till the the full
solution of the issue. Aram Karapetian, Chairman of Nor Zhamanakner
party, called on the NA not to submit this issue for discussion. “The
President and Defence Minister, as well as the parliament will bear
the responsibility for this decision.” He gave assurance that the
reason of this “political adventure” is not the pressure exerted by
US but the initiative of the very Armenian authorities.