The
NDU leader Vazgen Manukian doesn’t regret that he wasn’t present in the NA Constitutional
amendments as he was taking part in the summit of "Solidarnost".He
and the leader of "Heritage" party Raffy Hovhannisian took part in the
international summit "From Solidarnosts to freedom" by title in Poland
from 29-31 of August. That summit was devoted to the 25th anniversary of that
movement. Raffy Hovhannisian met the former President of Poland Lekh Valensa,
the US former Secretary of State Madlen Allbright, and the former advisor of National
Security of the US President Zbignev Bjezinski, the President of Poland Alexander
Kvasnevski and others. And what meetings did Vazgen Manukian have? Instead of
answering to that question he produced the atmosphere there; "We all stayed
in the same hotel there. And the summit took place in the hall of that hotel.
It was like a club, we were drinking coffee together, having breakfast, speaking
to each other in corridors. So we met a lot of people and spoke with them a little.
I wouldn’t produce it as official meetings during of which serious meetings took
place. There were acquaintances, it was pleasant for me to become acquainted with
?Valensa. It was interesting. But I think that the importance of the summit wasn’t
there. The summit was important by its process from past to future. I was envious
that our Armenian movements hadn’t been produced there at all. A forgotten movement
for which we are also guilty. Raising the role of "Solidarnost", showing
that the change of geopolitical processes happened with the help of their movement,
was very valuable in the Western policy. And Poland rather successfully tries
to become a leader in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe."We
were interested whether he wasn’t sorry after his return informing about the events
in the special session that he preferred to take part in the summit. "I was
glad more that I wasn’t present in that awful process",- Mr. Manukian laughed.
-I agree with the standpoints of the opposition. It is more exiting for me not
the problem whether the old Constitution will remain or the new one will be adopted
but it is much more important if the authorities will rig the referendum as they
used to or won’t. Some people affirm that it is profitable for the authority to
stay the old one, some of them say that it is profitable to change coming from
political some proposes. I observe the problem from another standpoint, will they
turn to falsifications or won’t. I think the hand, which used to steal will always
steal like Shura Balaganov who having a lot of money in his pocket again steals.
The authority like Balaganov, it will falsify again as it won’t be able. And we’ll
fight there."The Ambassador of the Great Brtain in Armenia Torda Abbot
considered important before the special session that the opposition must take
part in the Constitutional process: " After all it is their business to assist
or to say no to the reforms, but I think, it is obvious that the opposition must
take part in those discussions." And both he and the US Ambassador in Armenia
began considering important the referendum to be held without falsifications warning
that the political decisions for that reason will be taken in streets and the
rising atmosphere of distrust will influence on the legitimacy of the authorities.
To the question if such warnings won’t have preventing meaning the NDU leader
answered; "I’m completely agree with two affirmations of the Ambassadors.
I thought that it was right for the opposition to take part in the special session
and consider important the problem of falsifications. But will such warnings be
able to prevent the habit of falsifications. If the opposition and people don’t
manage to get rid of that habit, no outside power will be able to solve that problem."Anna
Israelian