Initiating dialogue with Armenia, Turkey pursued the only objective — to split and weaken our nation, ARF Dashnaktsutyun leader Vahan Hovhannisyan told the journalists.

According to him, Turkey sowed discord between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and quite succeeded in implementation of its plans related to Armenia and Diaspora. “Presently Ankara seeks to sow discord within Diaspora. Turkish authorities’ intentions to meet Armenian communities’ representatives worldwide pursue the mentioned aim, as Ankara has already announced it will hold meetings with Armenian non-radical organizations,” Hovhannisyan noted. He added that ARFD foreign offices will decide independently whether to meet with Turkish representatives or not.

Earlier, Turkish Premier and Foreign Minister declared of their intention to meet with Armenian Diaspora representatives to discuss the issues urgent for both nations.

Hovhannisyan also stated that Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan had never been off-politics, thus raising of this issue is incorrect. “The matter might concern return of Kocharyan to the leadership position. As to ARFD’s stance, we have not discussed the issue as it is not on agenda,” politician noted, adding that certain circles are concerned over his return. “My feeling is that those people are envious of Kocharyan. Say media put the fact of RA president’s visit to Woodrow Wilson memorial in a way that it was unprecedented move, forgetting that Kocharyan paid tribute to the memory of the former American president 15 years ago,” Hovhannisyan stated.

Touching upon ARFD plans, the MP underlined that it was decided to convene an enlarged meeting of the forces opposing the Protocols on April 22. He also emphasized the signature collection against the Protocols, informing that as of today 220.000 people have signed the petition. Hovhannisyan recalled that ARFD rally will be held on April 23.

A.G.