The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is one party; there is no Diaspora and Armenia ARF. Touching upon Nikol Pashinyan’s statements, criticizing the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party and particularly Hrant Margaryan, ARF Bureau member, and Chairman of the Coordination Council of Armenian Companies in France, Mourad Papazian responded to Tert.am with this statement.

“The ARF has always defended and continues to defend the values that unite the Armenian nation. Being a pan-Armenian family, the ARF purses both the Diaspora’s struggles and Armenia’s challenges. And, finally, we know that all matters are related to one another. The struggle for the Armenian Cause, the recognition of the Genocide and the rights of the Armenian people, the just resolution of the Artsakh issue with results favoring the Armenian side, the Javakhk Armenians, the survival of the Diaspora, as well as the Diapora being an external power to Armenia, the development of Armenia and solving the problems of social injustice, solving issues of equality in the country; all of this work is connected with each other,” he said, adding that everyone should be happy that the ARF is present in all parts of the world today.

According to Mourad Papazian, the ARF has always been an “informal” and extra diplomatic force of the independet Armenia. “Nikol Pashinyan should realize that the ARF is not an enemy. On the contrary, if that force [the ARF] did not exist, there would have been a necessity to create it”.

Speaking about the campaign, the chairman of the Armenian Coordination Council of France also mentioned that the election campaign should be a very important measure of democracy, and it is time for healthy and constructive political disputes. “The debate between Nikol Pashinyan and Hrant Margaryan should continue on a sound basis. The public debate that Hrant Margaryan offered to Nikol Pashinyan should definitely take place. That will show our [the ARF’s] maturity and give an opportunity to show the people different points of view on the highest level.
Hripsime Hovhannisyan

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