“Pan-Armenian tour of RA President Serzh Sargsyan has exceeded all expectations,” Head of Armenian Republican Party (HHK) Galust Sahakyan told NEWS.am October 8.

According to him, this step showed Turkey how critical for the President Diaspora’s opinion is. Now Ankara will not cherish a hope that Diaspora’s standpoint might be neglected. Sahakyan maintains the Diaspora is unanimously for the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey, disagreements emerge only on the ways of doing so.

“However, Diaspora and Armenia should remember that the executive privilege in adopting foreign policy as well as signing official documents belongs to Armenian leadership. As for the mass protest actions both in Armenia and Diaspora, they assist Armenian diplomacy, once again emphasizing stance of the Armenian nation. Those who tried to sabotage the Pan-Armenian tour are betrayers and marginal persons,” ARP leader stated.

Sahakyan respects opinion of those people and political forces that speak civilly. He outlines that Sargsyan has not set a tour to persuade Diaspora in anything, but wanted to listen to their standpoint to make further conclusions. “The President made a long way and he is an experienced politician. Sargsyan is not going to persuade anybody that signing of the documents is authority’s droit and noone can prevent this.”

Asked, whether ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols can split Armenia-Diaspora relations, Sahakyan replied: “Diaspora is not a state, thus Armenia-Diaspora relations are neither of international nor official character to go worse or better. It is solely Armenian communities’ relationship with their motherland. Diaspora will in no way separate from Armenia, as the former cannot do without the latter. Diaspora does need Armenia as much as Armenia needs it.”