YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-National Democratic Union leader Vazgen Manoukian sent holiday greetings to ARF leader and defendant in the so-called "Trial of 31" Vahan Hovanessian and his co-defendants–as well as to the defendants in the so-called "Dro" case and those arrested following the Sept. 25 post-election crackdown in Armenia–Vova Hakhverdian of the NDU reported.
"I would like to wish you and all our friends in custody a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. I wish that 1997 will be the year of freedom for you and our people. Last years events showed that we have a wonderful people-the opinion of our leaders that the population is disappointed and broken down did not prove to be true-and nothing should be spared for the sake of our people," Manoukian said in his message.