– Mr. Baghdasaryan, don’t you think that the scandalous ombudsman elections show that the National Assembly accepts any law passed by the president or the government? Don’t you think that if all laws were to be passed by a closed election, then it wouldn’t be necessary for the National Assembly to “order” a bill to be passed?
– First of all, the ombudsman elections were more democratic than scandalous. If there was only one candidate, then they could have said that nobody is entitled to his own opinion and there would be no election. That is why some political parties, including “Legal State”, made it so the elections would be open and I think that it favored everybody. As for accepting the laws ordered by the president or the government, let’s not forget that the same coalitional government was formed by the president of Armenia and the majority of MPs. So, we can’t really talk about making “orders”.
– There were some allegations claiming that it would be impossible to have 1/3 vote during the ombudsman elections, but the second elections proved that it is possible if there is trust. So, why weren’t the first elections successful? According to the media, the ombudsman was elected only after president Robert Kocharyan intervened. Don’t you feel bad that the president or his first adviser is the one leading the National Assembly instead of you?
– The National Assembly is not a company, or an administrative institution for me to be an owner. The National Assembly is a political force, which consists of seven different, political parties. Each party functions and implements its projects based on its principles. The president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan simply collaborates with the National Assembly, just like other countries. There is no other way. Since there are a lot of rumors flying around about the president’s first advisor Armen Gevorgyan, I must say that he is simply doing what the president tells him to do and there is no need to turn Armen Gevorgyan’s authority into dictatorship.
– Some Armenian political parties are starting to lead negotiations with other parties about the upcoming 2007 parliamentary elections. They are also talking about forming new alliances and parties. According to our sources, “Legal State” has also started discussing with other parties, including the newly formed ones. Are there any results?
– Our political party always discusses certain topics with other political parties and that’s part of our job. Only time will show whether or not there will be alliances. As for the newly founded parties, “Legal State” has not met with any of them.
– Will “Legal State” join an alliance of political parties or participate alone in the elections?
– You know very well that the alliance has to work hard to make it into the National Assembly. The alliance or coalition will be able to enter the National Assembly only if it proves that it can add a little something to what there already is. This will be more important after the elections.
– Is it true that you are going to look over the list of your party members and that some of them will be excluded due to their “poor” working habits?
– That is not true. I haven’t heard of such thing. The list of parties will be formed before the 2007 parliamentary elections, just like it has always been.
– Rumor has it that the “Legal State” party has already come up with a “black list” of names of people for the 2007 elections; people who are going to enter the National Assembly on behalf of “Legal State”. As a matter of fact, they say that that list is top secret and that the society doesn’t know that those people are from the party. What do you have to say about that?
– I don’t know who is spreading that information. If it is someone I don’t know, then I really don’t want to gossip. I repeat: there is no such thing as a black or white list. It’s all made up.
– According to “lragir.am”, the Armenian Republican Party and the “Prosperous Armenia” political parties might take part in the elections as one team. If that happens, don’t you think that the “Legal State” party will have difficulty in filling places in the National Assembly? Besides that, the ARF and “New State” political parties are discussing the possibility of participating in the elections as an alliance. Isn’t “Legal State” the least bit worried?
– Haykaz Ghahriyan is the founder of “Lragir”. He knows the political situation in Armenia very well and also works as an adviser. That is all I know about him. I don’t get mixed up in what “Lragir” is doing and I haven’t read what they write. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t work with journalists who are open-minded and can express their opinions. As for the Armenian Republican Party and “Prosperous Armenia” collaboration, everyone writes about that. This also refers to “New State” and the ARF. “Legal State” is the largest political party with its 60000 members. We have always been around and will have a strong influence on the people in the years to come. As to how much that influence will be, we will leave that up to the people to judge. We welcome any collaboration, which will help strengthen Armenia. The people know what each and every political party stands for and the choice is theirs. Voting as an act will cause serious problems in Armenia. “Legal State” will do everything it can to make sure the elections are fair and transparent.