I welcome the appointment of Göran Lindblad as a new PACE co-rapporteur on Armenia. His recent activities and responses to Armenian events show that he is a politician of principle, adhering to serious approaches, the former press secretary of the oppositional People’s Party of Armenia Ruzan Khachatryan, who is presently residing in Sweden, told NEWS.am.

According to her, Swedish politicians much differ from European MPs with their firmer position and they have the grounds. “Sweden is a country that can be followed as an example concerning many issues. Instead of following the lead of successful states, adopting their experience, we keep on making the same mistakes we have made for years, leading Armenia to such a grave condition. If we do not like Lindblad’s approaches in the documents he has signed, or they are not in Armenians’ favor, it is not his fault. It is our fault, mistake of Armenia’s shallow policy or the lack of policy as such,” Khachatryan stated, commenting on Yerevan’s criticism saying new co-rapporteur signed the pro-Azerbaijani draft resolution.

The oppositionist called “nonsense” the Armenian ruling coalition’s stance regarding as unacceptable he appointment of such a man of principle as Göran Lindblad co-rapporteur. Ruzan Khachatryan maintains that the ruling coalition members have repeatedly admitted that Armenia is weaker on the international scene due to its poor activities, whereas they are accusing Lindblad of everything.

As to expectations from Lindblad’s stance on the tragic March 1, 2008, events in Yerevan, Ruzan Khachatryan underlined the fact that new co-rapporteur is the author of the draft resolution on the Armenian authorities illegal orders involving the army in the events of March 2008.  “I have already said that Mr. Lindblad takes his work very seriously and he is a man of principle. If he is sure of something he carries it through. Unfortunately, it can have a negative impact on the country,” she said.

“But it is the present-day authorities, not the state, that are responsible for the March 1 events. I hope the co-rapporteurs will be able to differentiate the two facts. No doubt, the people that committed or aided that crime must be called to justice. And I hope it will happen as soon as possible,” Khachatryan said. She added that the authorities’ position on the “March 1 page being turned over” is completely unfounded as “such crimes cannot go unpunished.”

“I regret to note that the present-day authorities are unable to meet their commitments. If they do, they will have to go away and let others have their seats. For years the Council of Europe had given them time to make steps and, may be, at some moment, they understood time was up and they [the authorities] had to answer for what they had and had not done,” Khachatryan said.