As stated in the previous edition of “168 Hours”, Vladimir Zhirinovski and his “Liberal-Democratic” party are planning on organizing the third session of the “World Congress of Patriotic Parties” in Moscow. According to our sources, the Armenian Republican Party, the ARF and the Rule of Law, as well as the National Democratic Union headed by Vazgen Manukyan, have been invited to attend. In fact, Vazgen Manukyan told “168 Hours” during an interview that his party had taken part in the previous two conferences. Group leader of the Armenian Ramkavar Progressive Party Harutyun Arakelyan said the following to that:
“I have personally attended the two previous conferences and haven’t met any Armenian party leader there,” said Arakelyan.
In his words, since the conference has always been held on April 24, he has “forced” everyone to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide with a moment of silence.
“I must say that I even had an agreement with Zhironovski to have the third conference held in Armenia, but it didn’t happen thanks to former Ambassador to Russia Anatoli Dryukov,” said H. Arakelyan.
Is the Armenian Ramkavar Progressive Party going to participate this year?
“We told them that we are going to, but don’t know for sure. Let Vazgen Manukyan go and force them to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide with a moment of silence,” said group leader of the ARPP.
“168 Hours” asked Arakelyan to clarify what “patriotic party” means.
“Hitler and Mussolini were also patriots, but a real patriot must recognize its borders and never cross them,” said Arakelyan.
As for the invitation sent to the Armenian Republican Party, “168 Hours” found out from leader of the National Assembly faction Galust Sahakyan that “he hasn’t received any letter and doesn’t know anything about the conference.”
But vice-president of the ARP Mushegh Lalayan said that the political party had been invited to the “patriots’” congress and would “most probably participate”. So, either Galust Sahakyan didn’t know about the invitation, or he is simply afraid of accepting the fact that the Russian Foreign Ministry of Affairs or even Zhirinovski decide which Armenian parties get invited.
Vice-president of the Russian State Duma Vladimir Wolfovich, who shows his patriotism by changing his father’s last name given to him (let’s state that his father is a Jew), is drawing conclusions and deciding who is a real patriot in Armenia and based on what principles. What’s surprising is that citizens of Armenia are so serious about Zhironovski’s meaningless “World Conference of Patriotic Parties” that they are still discussing the invitation. It’s interesting; is Zhirinovski a patriot? What does the average Russian citizen think about this? And we thought that only Sargis Asatryan takes Zhironovski seriously in Armenia.
K.T.