The Armenian authorities have banned the entry of Murad Frank Papazyan, the chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), member of the ARF Bureau, to Armenia, as he informed about this in a Facebook post. Diaspora organizations, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, and some prominent individuals condemned what happened. Aravot asked Murad Papazyan whether he has officially received any answer regarding the ban on entering Armenia. He said that so far he has not received any answer.
On the same day, the French Embassy in Armenia was informed about the incident and applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. He was also contacted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France. Now, according to him, work should be done with the RA government in order to get an explanation of the reason for banning his entry and why the RA government recognized him as a persona non grata. Murad Papazyan believes that the reason is political and there cannot be any other issue. We asked him to reveal more, and we asked him what he means when he says the reason is political, and why, in his opinion, his entry was denied. The chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France says that the Prime Minister of Armenia is upset that Armenian figures abroad do not sympathize with him, and surprisingly does not want to understand that according to the laws of democracy, every individual has the right to freely express their opinion, regardless of their side, whether they are for or against the policy of the RA Prime Minister.
Murad Frank Papazyan, the chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), member of the ARF Bureau
Papazyan emphasizes that their oppositional attitude is conditioned by the prime minister’s policy regarding Artsakh, Armenian-Turkish relations and Hay Dat. According to his wording, the Prime Minister does not put up with the Diaspora opposition, for that he “uses” the Chief Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, to create division in the Diaspora, to create “own” organizations subordinate to the government.
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“The prime minister does not accept the idea that the Diaspora should act independently for the benefit of Armenia, for the benefit of Artsakh, for the benefit of the Hay Dat, he does not understand that the only defender of Armenia’s interests is the Diaspora, for tens of years the Diaspora has been fighting for Armenia’s independence, security, and strengthening, also for Artsakh and Armenian State. He does not accept that influential individuals in the Diaspora are not his supporters. This is a serious violation of democratic principles and human rights, regarding which it will certainly be difficult for the Armenian government to give an explanation to the French government. And when the explanation for banning a person’s entry into Armenia is only political, it means that the Armenian government violates the ABCs of democracy,” said the ARF Bureau member. During the conversation, it was also touched upon the tightening of the procedure for obtaining RA citizenship for Diaspora Armenians and the statement of the National Health Service about it. We asked if he doesn’t see a trend here, especially in this region.
“I certainly see it… By dividing Armenia from the Diaspora, they weaken both Armenia and the Diaspora, that is, they weaken the Armenian world for the benefit of our enemies, for the benefit of Turkey and for the benefit of Azerbaijan. This person (Nikol Pashinyan-G.H.) has come to weaken the Armenian side… Today we need to strengthen our positions, while he is weakening them,” said our interlocutor. “For example, what did the prime minister gain by banning my entry to Armenia? What did the Armenian regime gain? Nothing, it only weakens itself. When I imagine that this person is negotiating with Erdogan and Aliyev, I am very afraid for the future of Armenia. He does not have the level of being a prime minister. Although he was once a good opposition, today he is ruling the country in an irresponsible manner. The people of Armenia should understand that Pashinyan does not work for the benefit of Armenia, and does not ensure their security. Pashinyan does not work for the people of Armenia- he works for himself, for his clan, for his interests. He is a very dangerous leader, and measures should be taken before he resigns,” Murad Papazyan said.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
