On November 10-14 the NA MP group on Armenia-Germany parliamentarian friendship group visited Germany. During the press conference, which followed the visit, the new member of the Prosperous Armenia faction Armen Melikyan said during the meeting with the representatives of the Friedrich Ebert and Friedrich Naumann foundations he blamed them of fragmenting the government and society of Armenia because of the programs implemented by these funds.
However, according to well-known sources during the meeting of the representatives of the mentioned foundations Cannes and Schubert Mr. Melikyan not only didn’t blame them of anything but didn’t pronounce a single word. We may only guess why Melikyan had decided to make such a statement during the press conference. It is also hard to explain why the MPs, who were present at the press conference together with Melikyan didn’t warn the latter that during such press conferences people should only tell the truth. However, let us quote some of the statements, which Melikyan made during the press conference, which are by the way placed on the official website of the Armenian National Assembly. “I’d like to mention that our meetings with the representatives of the foundations, in particular with the representatives of the Friedrich Ebert and Friedrich Naumann foundations Cannes and Schubert. There were a number of questions arisen. First we wanted them to finance their programs, which would be aimed at conducing to harmony in the society instead of fragmenting the government and the society. We also requested them to fund those programs, which would be aimed at development of culture, arts and healthcare,” said Melikyan in an encouraged way during the press conference in Yerevan. It is obvious that not only Melikyan but also the ones, who prompted him to make such “lofty” statements that the purpose of such foundations is not the funding of some healthcare institutions, such as Melikyan’s but to contribute to the strengthening of liberalism and democracy in the South Caucasus. However, the shock is not over yet. According to Melikyan he blamed the representatives of the foundations of organizing the revolution in Georgia. “I asked them a question whether there is any coincidence that their head offices are located in Tbilisi and that they are actively in charge of organizing active programs in Georgia. I also asked them whether that had any connection with what happened in Georgia several years ago. Of course, they had a hard time answering these questions because they knew exactly what I meant. At any rate I think that they perfectly realized what we want and what we think about them,” said Melikyan during the press conference. By using the occasion that on these days the director of the South Caucasus programs of the Friedrich Naumann foundation Wolfgang Ion was in Armenia we asked his opinion about Melikyan’s statements. First of all Mr. Ion specially for Mr. Melikyan presented the activities of his foundation. The response of Melikyan will extremely make the owner of Malatia-Sebastia Hospital Melikyan very sad because the activities, which he suggested, such as arts, culture, healthcare doesn’t fit at all with the activities of the foundation. We also asked Wolfgang Ion what he thinks about the concerns expressed by the Armenian MP. His concerns related to his belief that the programs funded by the foundation fragment the society and the government. “I definitely don’t think so. We are a political foundation and we fund political programs. We are a foundation of German liberalism and prior to our seminars we tell everyone that we are not non-partisan and that we have a clear political affiliation and that we are connected with one of the opposition parties of Germany – the Free Democracy party. The party is represented in the German parliament. The mentioned party had been in opposition for eight years now but it used to be a governmental party for about 35 years. In the South Caucasus – in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan we have four goals. Our first goal is the economic liberalization. We think that it is important not only for even distribution of the country’s wealth but also the fact that it will help the countries successfully overcome poverty. Based on our European practice I may say that these activities cause peace as well because if the programs are implemented successfully they may reduce the level of aggression. In that case the circle of joint interests increases and leaves behind the belligerent motives. And we cooperate with anyone, who shares this approach,” said Wolfgang Ion. According to him the second goal of the foundation is the establishment of Armenia-Azerbaijan and Georgia-Abkhazia dialog. The third goal, which he also signified relates to European integration and NATO-South Caucasus relations. “And the fourth goal is that we help our colleagues to strengthen democracy through their organizations. Indeed, these are the goals of German foundations. The difference is that each of them is represented in different directions. This is very good because due to our activity you see how we build our political system in Germany, which is quite successful. That is the reason why Germany is cooperating with political parties and organizations of the South Caucasus, which in their turn cooperate with the governmental structures. There are also such foundations, which cooperate only with the political opposition and our foundation is one of those. We work only with the opposition, which in my opinion is very good because there can be no democracy without good opposition. And I think that we all wish that political processes take place not on the streets, on the stairs with weapon but in the Parliament, in the civil society through dialog and consensus. This is our ultimate goal and I think this is very important for your country. And I think it is not right to blame us of working with the Armenian political opposition and if to tell you the truth it doesn’t work on behalf of the Armenian government. The government of Armenia must be interested in having a strong, flexible and constructive opposition, which will take part in strengthening of the state. This is exactly what we wish to see here and we work to support that process. We don’t support unconstructive actions,” said Wolfgang Ion as a response to the accusations addressed to their foundation.
To a remark that the Armenian MPs hinted that they have participated in the rose revolution in Georgia as well the head of the South Caucasus projects of the Friedrich Naumann foundation said: “What rose revolution? It was not a rose revolution, it was a peaceful demonstration in Georgia. We are not guilty for the fact that someone went against people with foul gas. Other people are the guilty ones and we have to say that. We are not guilty in what happened in Georgia at all. In Georgia we are cooperating with parties, which are not governmental but are cooperating with the Republican party of Georgia, which is not a street party but a party of intellectuals, which is making constructive steps not to let happen what happened in Georgia.”
In order to show to the PA representative MP that the same thing will not happen in Armenia, i.e. their foundation will not support a revolution in Armenia, Wolfgang Ion said: “There is not such danger from us. Because I think that not revolutions are the key to solve problems in South Caucasus, but evolutions, peace and dialogue between different political parties. This is the only way to development. No revolutionary action can bring to success.” In answer to our question whether the ongoing developments in Armenia will result in a revolution or evolution Ion said: “I hope it will result in evolution. I hope. I also welcome the Armenian government’s steps toward making peace. I welcome the policy with Turkey and Azerbaijan. I hope that here the authorities will make democratic steps in the future.” In answer to a question whether Armenia is a democratic or non-democratic country he said: “I will say it directly. It is not my business. We are not in charge of analysis. There are other organizations in charge of analyzing. The Euro Union can estimate the integrity of the Armenian elections. I can only say that we trust the EU much because they are making very serious analysis. Certainly you can say that we agree with the estimations and evaluations given by them.”
The representatives of Friedrich Ebert in Armenia, Naira Gevorgyan said concerning A. Melikyan’s announcements: “The goals of our foundation are the following: support democracy and legal statehood, integration with Europe and peaceful settlement of conflicts. These are our goals. We are working with the civic groups which are committed to reaching these goals. In our work we are trying to support dialogue between civic groups, we are supporting dialogue between the government and society. As for the meeting between the representatives of the foundation and MPs in Germany, while being there they praised the work of the foundation in Armenia. For example, they have praised our cooperation with the CC and Press Club of Yerevan. Some of the MPs asked our foundation to enlarge the scope of activities in Armenia. In other words, we are happy that our activities are appreciated by MPs.”
In a word, based on N. Gevorgyan’s words we may assume that in fact neither A. Melikyan, nor other MPs have said anything than good things about the foundation’s activities in Armenia. It is not clear why they are saying quite other things in Armenia.