YEREVAN. – We consider this a "trench," in the figurative sense, for the preservation of national and spiritual values, and as the soldier standing at the border keeps the border, (...) so have we decided to keep this “border.” Vahagn Chakhalyan, Coordinator of the "Kamq (Will)" Initiative, told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am today, referring to the signature campaign against the prospect for Armenia’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention, and which had launched in front of the National Assembly building several months ago.

According to him, today is the 168th day of this signature campaign.

"Since we had initially stated that our signature campaign was open-ended and we will not stop until we send the Istanbul Convention back to its birthplace, Istanbul, we will continue the signature campaign," Chakhalyan said. "Based on this principle, even though it's January 1, we decided to be here."

According to him, many of the members of the "Kamq" initiative became members during this signature campaign.

Members of the “No to Istanbul Convention” initiative see risks by it, and insist this convention should not be ratified by Armenia. Eleven member states of the Council of Europe, including Armenia, have signed, but have not ratified, this document.