YEREVAN. – Newly appointed Justice Minister said he is not tasked with neutralizing NGOs.

Hovhannes Manukyan's remark came in response to a request to comment on Russian Ambassador's statement calling to neutralize the NGOs by “other methods”.

Asked what methods can be used, since NGOs are registered by Justice Ministry, Manukyan said: “Am I faced with such a task? The President and the Cabinet set tasks. Armenian government's response to Russian Ambassador is reflected in an official statement of the Foreign Ministry”.

In his recent interview Ambassador Ivan Volynkin said other methods are also apparently needed for neutralizing those NGOs in Armenia that want to drive a wedge into Russian-Armenian relations.

And in response to the RFE/RL Armenian service query, Armenia MFA Spokesperson Tigran Balayan had said that hardly any NGO could drive a wedge into Russian-Armenian relations, which are based on the century-long friendship that has withstood the test of time. “All organizations registered in Armenia are functioning within the framework of Armenia’s law,” Balayan had concluded.