– Mr. Bagratyan, before the dialogue between the authorities and the ANC you told us that the dialogue would result in a deadlock. The dialogue is over now, and what do you think, where has the dialogue brought us to?
– I said that this was just an opinion. We discussed that issue and decided to enter into the dialogue. The decision was mine too. I was afraid that it might result in deadlock. However, there was a very important issue during this dialogue, and this was the issue of releasing the political prisoners.
– In several months your concerns happened and the dialogue resulted in deadlock. This resulted in disappointment among the members of the Congress. During the dialogue and after it there were fewer people attending the demonstrations of the ANC.
– You are right. There is reduction of interest and you have noticed that. But during the recent rally there were twice more people than before that. I believe that on November 25 twice more people will attend the demonstration. The ANC will work harder and will bring back its constituency as the time is passing and the opinions of people are changing.
– Before the meeting in Kazan you said that the dialogue would strengthen Serzh Sargsyan’s positions. It was evident in the case of the recent PACE resolution too. In fact this dialogue did not give anything to the ANC, and even it disappointed the ANC’s followers and was good for the authorities.
– We understood that he would become stronger. IT is OK that he became stronger because he was representing Armenia. By the way, I should admit that these strengthened positions and opportunities were used by him very effectively both in the negotiations on the conflict of Karabakh and inside the country. We see the results now, and we understood it at that time. He goes to Russia and the US and does not have the zero status he used to have before. In difference with Aliyev no one can call him a dictator because he was at least involved in dialogue, which made him even stronger. This is what Sargsyan benefited from. What was the benefit of the ANC? The biggest issue the ANC solved at that time was the release of the political prisoners. We wanted it to last longer but we were let down by the authorities. Before starting this process we understood that the situation might become different. Anyway we will continue our struggle.
– During the recent demonstration the ANC leader Ter-Petrosyan announced that even thought the ANC would do their best for the purpose of holding by-elections, but they would also get prepared for the upcoming elections in order to have the necessary number of seats in the parliament to raise the issue of the president’s impeachment. Many people thought that by this announcement they accepted the fact that they could not push for by-elections, thus they were getting ready for the regular elections.
– No. The ANC is demanding by-elections and we still believe that even if it takes place on day before the regular ones, it is very important. At present I don’t know whether there will be by-elections or no, but currently we are struggling for that. However, I would like to tell the authorities that fairness is more important in the domestic political life than in foreign policy because if you cheat somebody in your country, that somebody is your countryman. I think they should be more serious to the domestic politics.
– It seems that now the Prosperous Armenia party, which is backed by former president Kocharyan, is a bigger danger than the ANC. Even there are opinions that the ruling party is working on neutralizing those dangers.
– I have never thought that way. I have always said that those who are making money illegally can cut deals easily too. So I would like to tell people not to look for sponsors among those who make money illegally, because one day they may cut deals with each other and let them down, because their interests make this possible and easier. In a political power such as the ANC, where people are independent, it is difficult to cut deals, and for their other two political powers the ANC is the main opponent because they cannot cut deals with it.
– In the political sector of Armenia always there have been changes after visits of Armenian leaders to Moscow. This happened also following the events of March 1 in 2008, and this happened before the replacements in the government too. What do you think about this?
– Russia has a strong influence on Armenia’s economy and politics. It is natural that during such visits issues are being negotiated. I do not agree with the opinions in the media that the president went to Moscow, agreed his steps and came to Armenia to do what he had agreed in Moscow. Anyway, the opinion of the Russian administration is essential for Armenia.
– It is important for the former authorities of Armenia too because there is information that the former president Kocharyan often pays visits to Moscow to meet with the Russian authorities too.
– It is difficult to say. For example, every year I am invited to Russia for several times to take part in discussions and conferences about the Russian policy for the next 5, 10 or 15 years. It is difficult to say what the goal and reason of a private visit is. I don’t think that Armenia is a priority for Russia. Putin is getting prepared for lections and I don’t think Armenia is included in the list of 100 issues he has prepared for the elections. It is natural, because Armenia is a small country.
– The coalition memorandum dated February 17 writes that the coalition powers will keep the proportion of powers in the coalition government. Serzh Sargsyan is replacing officials, as a result of which the positions of the RPA is being more strengthened in the government. Instead of this, the ANC people are becoming more disappointed. How is the ANC going to provide majority in the parliament in such conditions?
– It was you to speak of disappointment. Our goal is working with people and protecting their votes during both ordinary and extraordinary elections.
– According to your opinion, what is the goal of these replacements in the government?
– It is done for the purpose of weakening Robert Kocharyan’s positions to the extent that the president was able to fire an official from Karabakh (ex-mayor Karen Karapetyan). The general logic of these changes is resulting in weakening their positions. There will be more actions against the positions of Robert Kocharyan in the government.
– The government is proposing changes to the tax law. These laws also include aggressive actions for levying taxes, including adopting a limit of luxury service, etc. You have discussed these changes in your work entitled “100 steps”. You touched upon these issues in your speech at the recent rally too. Is the government accepting your recommendations?
– There was time that I was offered to discuss the 100 steps as they believed it was the only solution to many problems in the economy. But at that time Tigran Sargsyan asked not to organize such discussions as he thought the ANC would make it a topic of political discussions. What can I say? If they are making the same recommendations as me or the ANC, that is very good. If we were the decision makers, we would do it better, because it is not so progressive to make the 20% progressive tax 25%.This is a half step. I don’t know what is being discussed in the parliament because following the ANC’s demonstration on October 28 it was drastically changed. On the other hand, it is the honor of the government if they are taking the recommendations into consideration and making efforts to fulfill them. But the problem is that in the current situation of lack of democracy they are applying those principles with their changed preferences, which even complicates the situation more.