The Election of PACE New President Will Create Favorable Environment for Our Delegation's Work: Naira Karapetyan (EXCLUSIVE)

• 01.22.2018, 19:20
•  Europe,  World,  Interview

“Armedia” IAA presents an exclusive interview with the Secretary of the United Liberal National Party (MIAK), Member of the National Assembly's 5th Convocation, Naira Karapetyan on the election of new PACE President.

- Mrs. Karapetyan, today Michele Nicoletti was elected PACE President. According to you, how would his presidency influence on PACE activities?

- I personally know Michele Nicoletti. I was lucky to work with him for almost 5 years. With his human quality and inner noble values he is the very person, who is capable of returning the Assembly to the framework of its real activities and restore the good reputation of the structure. Being a very modest person, at the same time he is quite strict and with definite principles. I think that the Assembly, which must really be a cradle of democracy, needs such a leader. And despite the fact that the Assembly is in a difficult - transitional and aftershock phase, I want to express my confidence that during his presidency human rights and the principles of democracy will be respected.

- According to you, will he succeed in protecting the structure from corruption scandals?

- Currently, PACE has an external independent investigation body for Corruption Crimes Investigation, and Nicoletti has contributed greatly in the creation of this body. Working with him in the PACE Charter Commission, I have always witnessed his strictly objective and practical recommendations to grant the investigative body sufficient powers and to exclude corruption in it. Let's remember that Michele was one of the first, who blamed some MPs and their leader, former PACE President Pedro Agramunt for corruption, forcing them to leave the post and the Assembly. Naturally, corruption has not appeared in one day and will not disappear in one day, and this is why I mentioned that it is a difficult period. The most  important thing is to go with a hard line now. I think he will succeed.

- How will Nicoletti’s presidency affect the activities of our delegation to PACE?

- At present, a very favorable environment has been created for our delegation. If earlier we had to voice the facts of Azerbaijan's influence on this or that document and remain unheard because of the united and solid work of lobbyists of "caviar diplomacy", now many of them are revealed or withdrawn from the Assembly or will no longer dare to enter into dirty games.

In my opinion, Nicholetti has always had a warm working relationship with the Armenian delegation and has a correct understanding of Armenia and Artsakh. And I am very happy that he is the President of PACE and will meet our country's President on January 24 to address the Assembly and answer the MPs' questions.

We wish him good luck.