Ararat Zurabyan: “Kentron community will be the beginning of victory”

25/09/2008 Lilit SEYRANYAN

– In fact the local government election of Kentron community is the biggest event after the recent presidential election and March 1 clash where the government and opposition will have to meet face to face. Do you think that the authorities have overcome the syndrome of the past elections and will they let normal elections take place?

– As we know the authorities very well, we should not believe in such possibility. On the other hand if they think normally they will understand the real situation and will realize that normal elections should take place. But still I don’t believe in it. I don’t care what they will try to do with the elections because I believe that I will win whatever they do or whatever happens.

– Some people say that it is not excluded that the authorities may give you an opportunity to be elected in order to weaken the political tension. Even there are rumors saying that this is why you were released from cells. It means that the government wants to see you in this community head’s position. What do you think about such rumors?

– I think that those are baseless rumors. Even some people spread rumors that there are some arrangements between Serzh Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan. I think that the rumors you say are like these ones, in other words they are baseless. It is clear that the government may not want to lose Kentron community because it is very important for them. I believe that the election will be very tense on September 28. Of course if they think well they will not let the situation become so tense because ultimately losing in one community does not mean too much for them. Unlike any tactical strategies on the part of the authorities and whatever they do the opposition will be strong and I will win. I am not the only person who believes in this but also many other people and if you ask citizens who will win in case of normal and fair elections, they will say the same thing as I did. As for the rumors you said, I mean the rumors saying that I was released to become a community head later, I have never sacrificed my principles, thus no one can accuse me in changing my attitude. I have never strayed from my way. Furthermore, I am 45 already and it is impossible to change. I have health problems, which is the reason why I was released. All my friends know that I have such problems. I have had problems with my health during rallies as well and my friends saw that. I think that it would be very strange if they captured me and kept in cells only to keep me far from elections. I think that the authorities will do their best to help their candidate win. The only way how they can do it is widespread violations, which is impossible because we will do everything to prevent such possibility. The same methods they have used and the same things they have done in the past and may try to do this time will not help them.
 
– The last elections show that now the authorities use famous criminal authorities and distribute bribes. Do you think that it may be done in Kentron as well and are you able to prevent such things?

 
– It’s the honor of the Kentron community citizens that the role and significance of bribe in the Kentron community is not so big as in other communities. Usually in the center of the capital city money doesn’t work with the same effect as in communities out of the center and in village communities. In a word I think it will not play an important role either. As for criminal authorities, I don’t think those people you said are criminals. Things should be called with the real names and as they are because when being in prison I made contact with representatives of the criminal world and it became clear to me that they don’t cooperate with the police. In other words those guys are semi-criminal and semi-police gangs because it is impossible for real criminals to achieve their goals due to cooperation with the police. It is not a normal thing. I am not worried or concerned about any possibilities they may use on September 28. I assure you that our team has passed through all phases of such things and in case of any actions we will give a real payback. Also I think that everyone should understand that the authorities bear a big part of responsibility and if they want to make the situation complicated they may provoke tension. Such methods are dangerous in tension, but those are rare. I think that the authorities should do their best to support peaceful and fair elections in Kentron community. One day they will eventually understand that at least in one place they should organize fair elections and let the real winner get the position and be entrusted by people. If not, we may lose in any situation because if we sit with empty hands and think that everything will be as always we will not be able to change anything. Ultimately one day there must be fair elections in this country. I hope that this process will start from Kentron community.
 
– You said that Kentron community is important for the authorities and they will do everything to keep it under their influence. Does it mean that there will be serious clashes on the election day?

– Being an opposition representative in 1999 I was able to resist that pressure and be elected in the same community. I have done that one time and I believe I can do it one more time. It is also worth mentioning that in 1999 people did not trust my party and me so much as they do now. I believe that it will help us to reach our goals too. Please believe me that it was very difficult to compete with the authorities in 1999 as well, but we could succeed and we won. I believe that we will win because ultimately processes start in one place and finish in another place. I believe it will be the beginning of victory. I think that the authorities will do something to prevent our victory but I don’t think those actions may be so harsh and critical as they were during the presidential election because this community head’s election is not so big as the presidential election. These are two different elections with their capacity and I don’t think that the authorities may want to organize one more March 1 in Kentron community. I am optimist and I think that the authorities will be serious to these elections as well.

– Your teammates and you announced during the recent rally that by participating in the local government head’s election in Kentron community you are solving not the problem of winning that position, but the problem of accepting the elections in this community as a part of the people’s movement. Don’t you think that if your loyalists will be inspired by your victory they may be disappointed as well in case you lose?
 
– Nothing can brake the soul of our people. It is the vice versa, our people are more emotional and more issue-targeted than the leaders of the people’s movement, who are even sometimes trying to press down their emotions not to let the situation go out of control to the extent of being dangerous for the society. I believe that the election in Kentron community will encourage our loyalists because the most important thing here is not the results but the process. It is hard to say why but I believe that we will win and will give a hit to the people’s movement.

– Certainly your name is associated with the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, but we wander whether Ter-Petrosyan will take part in your meetings or no.

 
– Levon Ter-Petrosyan is actively involved in the process of elections and certainly he will participate in such meetings. At present I assure that Ter-Petrosyan’s activities are supporting this process and these elections are very important for him too.