Germans examine '31 case’ before giving agrement to V. Hovhannisian

Rumors persist in political circles that the reason for the delay in Vahan Hovhannisian’s agrement is the statement once made by Levon Ter-Petrosian to the effect that the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun party is a terrorist organization. Germany is now examining this fact, according to ‘Hraparak’ daily.

The paper’s sources in Armenian Foreign Ministry said this information is not true and the only reason for the delay in giving the agreement to V. Hovhannisian is that he was investigated in connection with ‘the 31 case’ and Germans are examining all volumes of that case, after which Hovhannisian will receive the agrement.

‘The German side will make sure that the case was opened for political reasons, which is a ‘general’ and ‘understandable’ practice across the world, the interlocutor said. By the way, the agrement was not delayed from a formal point of view as this process may last 6-8 months. The tenure of German Ambassador Armen Martirosian expired in October so there is still time until the spring,” the paper says.

As regards Turkish lobbying in Germany, it is not as strong as some think. “There is another important factor. Germany is becoming the most pivotal country of the EU. Great Britain withdrew its troops from there. Angela Merkel recently stressed the need to protect Eastern Partnership countries from Russia’s pressure, which means that the layout of forces in Europe is changing, affecting the traditionally friendly German-Russian relations,’ the daily notes.