Yesterday Viktor Dallakyan, who used to be a strict oppositionist, organized a press conference. It is worth mentioning that several months ago there were rumors that he was going to join “Prosperous Armenia” party, but later he didn’t. As for Dallakyan, he speaks very well about the PA and Gagik Tsarukyan, but again doesn’t say anything about his relations with the PA.
Yesterday we couldn’t find out anything either, but one thing was clear; despite his past harsh criticisms addressed to the president, this time he avoided entering into direct criticism. Answering a question whether he didn’t think that the PA was founded by president Kocharyan, Dallakyan said that he didn’t know any other founder but Gagik Tsarukyan. Dallakyan says that the PA does not bear any responsibility for the government since it hasn’t had places in electoral commissions, has not falsified elections, and hasn’t taken part in any elections. Based on the fact that the PA has not participated in any elections, Dallakyan managed to assume that it is neither pro-government nor pro-opposition. “I think this is a new political power that can be successful during the parliamentary elections. I think that if the PA appears as a new serious political power and works well, it has real opportunities to be widely represented in the parliament. Please pay attention to each letter and word that I am saying,” said the deputy. He also said that his political programs corresponded to the existing inner developments in Armenia. Dallakyan is nominated in Precinct 30 under majoritarian system, where his main competitor is NA deputy Vahram Baghdasaryan. Dallakyan says that he will be backed by “serious” opposition parties, particularly by PPA and NDU. Answering a question as to whether the PA will back him or not, Dallakyan firstly asked why they had to do so, and added that he had good relations with PA leader Gagik Tsarukyan and that they mutually respected each other, which made many people worry. Dallakyan says that the upcoming parliamentary elections can be described with four main factors: this is the first time since 1990 that the parliamentary elections have been organized in parallel with the end of the second turn of the president’s tenure; for the first time in Armenia the elected parliament will form a government, which means that the government will be formed by the parliament in Armenia; the international community will pay more attention to these elections than before; and at last Armenia has an opportunity to change the government peacefully by public vote. Dallakyan also says that despite the assurances of the authorities that they are ready to organize free and fair elections they are not ready psychologically to step down from power. Meanwhile Dallakyan thinks that president Kocharyan has a good opportunity to support free and fair elections and leave office known as a reformer. “Here the kindness of Kocharyan does not matter, but several motivations that may exist,” he said. He says that one of the motivations not to falsify the elections is that in case of falsifying the elections people may respond accordingly and do what they did in Georgia. “Firstly, I mean that falsifying the elections may be a reason for the president’s resignation. Secondly, I don’t think Kocharyan wants to leave behind a bad image after his tenure. This is his problem and he can just show that he is leaving as a reformer. I mean that this can be a motivation too,” explained the deputy. According to Dallakyan, the next motivation to organize fair elections is connected with the Karabakh conflict. “If the elections are falsified there will be harsh pressure, firstly connected with the Karabakh conflict,” he said, and added that the key for the conflict’s peaceful settlement is organizing fair elections in Armenia. “I mean that Kocharyan may have patriotic motivations too. There may be other motivations too, but I just want to say that there are some opportunities,” he said. He thinks that if the president fails to use that opportunity, the opposition shall use its opportunity too, since over 75-80% of the population supports them. Also, Dallakyan thinks that there are some opposition parties that may lead people and their movement (almost all the parties of “Justice” bloc, Arthur Baghdasaryan, Artashes Geghamyan, Raffi Hovhannisyan, Aram Karapetyan). Dallakyan describes the existing political environment in Armenia the following way; “Kocharyan is leaving, but Serge Sargsyan is failing to come forward.” Dallakyan thinks that Serge Sargsyan’s chances of becoming president are “minimal”. Dallakyan also condemned the incidents and murder attempt organized against the mayor of Gyumri. He thinks that such incidents may also happen in the pre-election period. Dallakyan thinks that this incident was politicized more than it should have been. He says that Vardan Ghukasyan does not have very much political power, and besides that we shouldn’t forget about the conflicts that his relatives had. “We need to have a great sense of humor to say that this incident was connected with ARP,” says Dallakyan.