“I ‘m not going to take my words back… never,” today, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Ivan Volinkin continues persisting in his statement, which caused a stir in Armenian society.
Recall, in the interview to Noyev Kovcheg («НоевКовчег») Russian-language newspaper, the Ambassador had said that we should deal with neutralizing the NGO operating in Armenia which want to drive a wedge between the Russian-Armenian relations, by bringing the example of the new lad on regulating the activities of NGOs in Russia. In response to this statement, Foreign Minister Sergey Manaseryan noted that “the Ambassador is free in his activities, if it comes to local organizations in Armenia, I do not think that it can be estimated as an interference. The Ambassador expressed his opinion, and received a response.” Aravot.am asked the political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan how he estimates such persistence of the Ambassador, he replied, “Of course, it would be good if the Ambassador is restricted in his powers and presents the interests of his state in Armenia and does not intervene in the regulation of public and media field in Armenia. It is absolutely unacceptable and even getting the RA Foreign Ministry’s comment he continues to assert his previous statements. It is unacceptable and can nowise contribute to more improvement and development of the Armenian-Russian relations. With such statements, the foreign countries’ diplomats are provoking the Armenian community against their state.” To our question of whether Armenia’s response was not adequate, Mr. Melik-Shahnazaryan responded, “The point that Armenia’s response was more than adequate, I have no doubt. Maybe it was more than should be, because today we have more serious problems.” In conclusion, the political scientist noted, “Mr. Ambassador did not understand the cause of public dissatisfaction and instead of closing the topic, he continues. If he continues insisting on his suggestion, the problem should really be looked into his approaches, but not in our society.” The Chairman of Armenia Helsinki Committee Avetik Ishkhanyan, giving estimates to the behavior of the Ambassador, noted that should we have a truly independent state and authorities endowed with dignity, then no ambassador of a country would make such a statement in our country. Mr. Ishkhanyan noted, “Should our authorities really have dignity, then, if an ambassador slips such a statement from his mouth, then the government of give country would immediately announce the ambassador persona non grata, and would requiring withdrawal of the ambassador from that country.
It is cynical when a foreign ambassador to the country is saying such things, but mostly it shows Armenia’s weakened condition as a state, that an ambassador of a country allows him to make such a statement.” Mr. Ishkhanyan considers the Foreign Ministry’s response inadequate and notes, “It was not a response, it was a couple of words, with which they wanted to justify them before our society. The adequate answer should have been requesting Russia to recall its ambassador.” Referring to the those driving a wedge in the Armenian-Russian relations, Mr. Ishkhanyan said, “Those driving a wedge in the Armenian-Russian relations and provoking hostility are the ones bringing Hrachya Harutyunyan to the courtroom in a robe, the ones selling more than one billion arms to our opponent, the ones pouring threats to Armenia, the ones dictating to open Russian schools in Armenia, and especially, in recent times, the Russian Ambassador with his statements.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
