Aram Manukyan Responds to Criticism on S. Caucasus Liberal Parties Joint Memo

In the last few weeks, the Pan-Armenian National Movement signed joint documents with European Liberal parties, the main aim of which is to create a space of tolerance in the region, said leader of the non-parliamentary political party Aram Manukayn, while meeting with journalists in Yerevan today. 

“The first was the ALDE [Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe] statement, according to which they are going to assist in the task of releasing political prisoners in Armenia,” said Manukyan. 

He also noted the Potsdam memorandum — signed by Müsavat, an opposition political party in Azerbaijan; the Republican Party of Georgia; and the Pan-Armenian National Movement in Armenia. 

“The next is the alliance of liberal political parties from 38 European countries, which comprises 58 political parties. In this alliance are five prime ministers from European countries; with that number, it is the third political force in Europe,” he said. 

Asked how he relates to the criticism that they are signing a memo with the opposition of a so-called enemy country, he said:

“A low-level politician, of course, should criticize this memo. What they say completely doesn’t interest me.  When they were being silly-billy with Turkey, playing football, eating dolma, who said anything, [it’s] good they were doing that. Whoever attempts to speak against this, is lower than a plinth,” concluded Manukyan. 

[Editor’s Note: at 6:03 pm same day, “unregistered political party” changed to “non-parliamentary party” as the Pan-Armenian National Movement is a current political party in Armenia though it is not represented in parliament.]