– The RA president Serzh Sargsyan assigned the law-enforcers to find new ways to actually investigate the March 1, 2008. Do you agree that by that he abided with one of the main demands of the Armenian National Congress? Do you think that before April 28 rally the rest of the two demands will be met?
– One of the demands, which we set, was fully met and we cannot deny that. As of the rest of the demands I honestly want the authorities to comply those. And I really want Sargsyan and Ter-Petrosyan to start a dialog. The reason why I want that is that it is the most acceptable and probable as well as favorable way to overcome the current situation. I want both the government and the political parties as well as individuals to understand these approaches so that the latter would make recommendations too.
– Several ANC loyalists and representatives are also discontent of this indirect communication between the Congress and the government. For example, the tactics of Ter-Petrosyan were not agreed by Karapet Rubinyan, Zhirayr Sefilyan. It seems that the former minister of foreign affairs Alexander Arzumanyan also has certain objections. Former party member Suren Surenyants also publicly speaks about this disagreement.
– There might be about ten people, who would think that way. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I can say that Surenyants doesn’t think so and he definitely thinks the way I do. I follow his actions.
– Wasn’t it loss for the Congress that the mentioned people deflected from the ANC? Perhaps Congress really had certain deflection from its main mission.
– Spreading political activity, becoming a member of this or other group in my opinion is a based on voluntary actions. People often deflect because of ideological controversies or because of the cases when all their demands are not fully met. And if there are people, who wish to go to a conflict and collision without any dialog, let them do so. They prefer rough methods of struggle. No one is going to ban them.
– The parliamentary opposition, the Heritage and the ARF, other non-parliamentary forces also express their concerns about this dialog. They don’t find it sincere. Do you think their concerns are groundless?
– Not only the parliamentary opposition and the non-parliamentary opposition as well as select parties instigate the Congress to go to a conflict with the government.
– Why?
– Because they are afraid that if peaceful processes of cooperation take place they will be ousted and will not have their place and weight on the political arena. Otherwise, no normal person would ever wish to see the basic opposition force in the country, the ANC, go to an open conflict with the government and the police. Why do the people, who love this country, want such a think? And I don’t see any objectivity. I don’t exclude the rough conflict between the ANC and the government but at this moment I see the possibility of avoiding it and brining the two sides to a common ground of cooperation. I have numerously collided with the authorities and I guess no one doubts my sincerity in that regard. I consider these things as fake arguments and a fact that they have nothing else to tell the society. They tend to criticize others for their failures. Let them say it as nothing is going to change as a result. Our upcoming rally is going to bring incomparably more people. The more they speak about that, the more they criticize and attempt to vilify us the more people are going to be present at the rallies. This is obvious and it is even considered a political technology, which they do in our favor. There may be people among them, who really think so. I don’t see any problem with that.
– Do you think this dialog will bring to the point that the Congress will start to demand the resignation of the incumbent government and president Serzh Sargsyan?
– It is excluded. After 2008 when the Congress was formed its main mission was the establishment of a legal and legitimate government, restoration of the constitutional order in the country. And in this regard our main objective was holding extraordinary elections.
– And in the case when Serzh Sargsyan fulfils the ANC demands why should there be change of government and new elections? After fulfilling these demands he will try to retain his power. In that case, isn’t a little unclear why would he go to a dialog?
– When Mubarak was demanding dialog it was already late. He wouldn’t need it anymore. In the case of Armenia, we think that it is not yet late and there is the opportunity to attain changes. Nothing is eternal. Of course he wants to stay. Of course, he understands the impact of his meeting with Ter-Petrosyan when the whole Armenia witnesses this. Of course he knows what will happen in his team afterwards.
– Do you agree with the opinion that this dialog between the Congress and the government, Serzh Sargsyan’s statement about the investigation of March 1 events, are directed against Robert Kocharyan and his possible return?
– I mostly consider the parameters of Kocharyan’s existence as a myth rather than reality. There is nothing like that. Theoretically in Armenia there are two elements of dual power. On the one hand we have the government and on the other hand the Armenian National Congress. The deeper it goes the more the society and the state will benefit.