Epress.am News from Armenia
In Armenia, the need for good neighborliness and to live in peace with one’s neighbors is present in every family, in every person, said Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives (CCPI) president Georgy Vanyan in an interview with Turan news agency. “Among my and my colleagues’ aims is to transfer those ‘kitchen conversations’ to the public arena, transforming this need for a social order,” he said.
Commenting on accusations made against him by the Armenian media and some public and political figures who consider him a traitor or an Azerbaijani spy, Vanyan said:
“This the result of hysteria launched against me and it is more so propaganda. If we believe those behind this propaganda, then I can’t go outside and everyone disregards me. However, not only do I work fruitfully in Yerevan, but also I go to other regions in the country, where I actively communicate with people and implement my projects. People understand very well what is happening and are fans of mine.
“If I am a spy for Azerbaijan or Turkey, then why am I free [i.e. not imprisoned]? I’m sure that ordinary citizens ask this same question and the answer for them is clear. It’s very interesting to note why this hysteria began, what have I and my colleagues done for such charges to arise.
“We are in favor of ordinary citizens themselves take part in human rights activities, but today even this issue is monopolized. In this regard, I coined a term: ‘restaurant-peacekeeping activities’ or ‘restaurant-travel dialogue.’ Engaged in this are those groups of human rights defenders who are trying not to allow anyone to get close, but their work, more accurately the efforts of their activities, is close to zero,” he said.