– Mr. Demirtchyan, the PPA is also included in the ANC and it clearly states that its main goal is the change of government. In this regard, what lessons do you learn from the events in Kyrgyzstan?
– First of all the Armenian government should draw a conclusion by reviewing the events in Kyrgyzstan. As long as the elections don’t look like normal elections, as long as the political struggle is made senseless, as long as we have impunity in the country, the government relies on falsifications and violence we cannot exclude the repletion of the Kyrgyz scenario in Armenia. Our people got a margin of patience as well and it’s not excluded that such things may take place in Armenia. As of the opposition then we have always been supporters of a peaceful struggle. We have struggled in the constitutional order, which wasn’t being accepted in a definite way. This would enable some people make certain bargains and thus play in “decisive” images. However, today we see that the ones, who were criticizing this method, now confirm that this is the right method. It is very important for our country to establish a tradition of democratic change of government. We were doing everything to reach change of government in our country without big turbulence. I have numerously said that the means are no less important than the goals and we have always taken into account the NKR issue. But the government has always showed the opposite. It showed that for the sake of power they are even willing to shed blood of its own people.
– But it is a fact that the struggle of the opposition in Armenia didn’t bring about change just yet.
– Nevertheless, this is the right way and it will ultimately bring results. I am sure of that. The change should be brought up in a peaceful way by people, through public pressure.
– By saying ultimately do you mean by-elections urged by the ANC to be held in September?
– This was an alternative suggestion that was submitted to the Council of Europe. The ANC has presented its approaches but we need to focus on the dates. One thing is clear. The sooner free and fair elections are held the more our country will benefit.
– Mr. Demirtchyan, after the meetings in Washington DC, the Prime Minister of Turkey stated that if Armenians remove their troops from two liberated territories the regulation process will accelerate. This was followed by the statement of the president of Azerbaijan, according to which the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is up to the two countries and no other state should interfere. Can we assume that the Azerbaijani leadership has received a favorable suggestion from the US or perhaps certain agreement was made around certain issues?
– Let me first say that no official information provided about the DC meetings, which is not normal. It is also not normal that they are keeping in secret the location of the vacation of the president of the state. But one thing is clear for sure. After the meetings the attitude of Turkey hasn’t changed. The fact that he is saying that two territories can be returned is not an evident change of policy or attitude. And I think we should speak about this theme only after the Armenian government provides official information.
– Some of the political forces of Armenia are claiming to suspend the protocols and others claim that Armenia shouldn’t wait for Turkey and should be the first to ratify the protocols. What is your opinion about this?
– If Armenia is the first to ratify these protocols, will the standpoint of Turkey change as a result? Of course, not. So I find this step meaningless. As of the withdrawal of the signature from the protocols then I don’t think this is real either. This is especially not real after the Washington meetings. This means challenging the international arena. I am sure that Serzh Sargsyan will not do this.
– What is your viewpoint about the inclusion of the innovated Madrid Principles in the negotiation process? Don’t you think that several of the well-known provisions are stemming from the Azerbaijani interests?
– The innovated Madrid Principles are definitely unacceptable. Of course, we haven’t seen those but the information that we have on those gives us grounds to assume that it relates to capitulation. It means that it assumes return of the territories to Azerbaijan with a prospect of an unclear referendum. It is evident that the pressure is fortified regarding the resolution of the NKR conflict and a quite complicated situation is formed. Armenia is facing serious challenges. In order to withstand those we need to first of all resolve the internal issues in the country by consolidating the society. So the government should think about this and undertake necessary steps. It should first of all release the political prisoners, set elementary order inside the country and stop the environment of impunity. It should also be able to conduct free and fair elections. We should do this to withstand both the foreign challenges and avoid the Kyrgyz scenario.