June 11, 2005 - 12:27 AMT
ARA ABRAHAMIAN: RELEASE OF ARMENIAN PILOTS - OUR COMMON VICTORY
The release of the Armenian pilots is our common victory, President of World Congress of Armenians Ara Abrahamian stated at today's press conference dedicated to the release of 6 Armenian pilots held in jail in Equatorial Guinea. In his words, Armenia did much for the release. "I cannot say it was easy", he noted. According to him, the Armenian government has been negotiating the pilots' release for over a year with several officials, including Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, visiting the African country. Ara Abrahamian himself took the advantage of international contacts. As result the Pope, UNESCO President and Russian Foreign Minister appealed to the leadership of Equatorial Guinea. "There are people who think too highly of my service. It is not true and will do harm not only to me but also to all Armenian people. All I did was for the consolidation of Armenian people", he said. "For the first time we bought to the Diaspora's notion that there is a state, which is not indifferent to the fate of its citizens independently of their location", Ara Abrahamian noted. "Though each country has its own laws I am convinced our pilots are innocent and I am happy they are free now", he said. At the same time he added that he has undertaken some commitments to the leadership of Equatorial Guinea and noted that they will aim at the solution of social and financial problems available in the country.