Yesterday, the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed the report entitled “The activities of democratic institutions in Turkey” with the ration of 96 “for”, 24 “against” and 10 “abstained”. The snapshot of Armenian delegation vote is as follows: head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Hermine Naghdalyan, RPA parliamentary faction MP Samvel Farmanyan voted in favor of the report. The head of the ARF faction Armen Rustamyan and PAP party leader Naira Zohrabyan voted “against” the report.
Aravot.am tried to find an explanation from Ms. Zohrabyan as to why they have voted “against” to the report criticizing Turkey.
– Ms. Zohrabyan, yesterday Armen Rustamyan and you voted “against” to the report on the activity of democratic institutions in Turkey, which was strongly criticizing the harassments against the media in Turkey and the freedom of expression, as well as there were some other serious criticisms.
– Yes, I voted “against” and I know why I do so. It is very easy to mercilessly criticize and write anything in the report, however, when you suggest that it is necessary to bring Turkey back to the monitoring regime in order to have the real control of the Assembly over the infamous processes going on in Turkey, for some reason, yelling Europeans all of a sudden began to protect Turkey with their breast, and one after another, including the rapporteur, made heartbreaking speeches that we cannot treat Turkey like this, we should not offend Turkey and resume a monitoring process.
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In other words, it is allowed to reach the number of criminal cases against the citizens of Turkey for insulting the gentle and affectionate personality of Erdoğan to 2000, it is allowed to block 110 thousand sites, it is allowed to assassinate journalists, but when you demand to resume the monitoring process over Turkey, which was suspended since 2004, it turns out that it cannot be done because Turkey gives 20 million euros to the European Council and can be upset all of a sudden. I do not participate in the end-in-itself criticisms for just releasing a “steam” in the air when they are not followed by specific actions. My colleagues have considered the criticism available in the report sufficient, it is also an approach worth respecting. I have found that it was necessary for the Assembly to vote in favor of the proposal to resume monitoring process in Turkey to achieve some results. If the proposal has passed, naturally, I would have voted “for” with both my hands.
– Nevertheless, one verbal proposal was passed that in 2017, the PACE will again address the issue of Turkey and decide whether they will start a monitoring process, or Turkey has solved the tasks set forth.
– I do not believe that PACE will have this courage of bringing Turkey to the monitoring process again. And it was no coincidence that in the political groups and especially, our European Conservatives’ group, where the Turks make a large number, they were just practicing this blackmail before the meeting, saying, do not forget who is the greatest contributor to your budget, and if you vote in favor of resuming the monitoring process, we can review the amount, and in response to which, I said that the Assembly is not the place for speaking with blackmail and contributed amount. One standard should work here for all, irrespective of whether you are giving 20 million or 5 cents.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
