– The society is discussing the issue whether new buildings will be built near the stadium Hrazdan, which is owned by Ashot Aghababyan. Have you talked to Aghababyan before this issue became a topic of discussions?
– If this was a private issue we could discuss it, but now it is about the public property. It is about a stadium, which we will be needing much in the future and we will not be able to build such stadium in the future. This was a present to us from the soviet times and we must protect it. This issue is not a private issue and neither a topic for discussion by parties because the stadium is a public property. It is not the property of the football federation but the people, and nobody has the right to embezzle or ruin that property. We are party friends with Ashot Aghababyan, but nobody has the right to do such thing to a sports complex which belongs to the public. The UEFA and FIFA do not allow large constructions and buildings in areas adjacent to stadiums. If the emergency exits and evacuation places are close, these institutions do not allow organizing games and events in such places. What can we do if Hrazdan stadium does not serve for the purpose of football anymore? We don’t have a choice. I am saying it now that next year we have a play with Malta, Bulgaria, and let god it happen and if we return with six points, we will play with Italy too, and this game will take place in Armenia. As the head of the football federation I must make sure that the game is played in a stadium that can host many people and the small stadium cannot host more than 14.000 people. There will be conflicts and football fans will break everything there. We must be careful to them. All we want is a normal stadium for football. What can I tell them if they ask that we have a stadium but cannot play there?
– According to Aghababyan, 3-4 years ago he applied to the seismic services and they said there was no problem with it.
– There will be no danger if small construction works are done. The problem is the field grass and the lighting conditions, which are out of the standards, but these problems can be solved in three months. The only problem there now is the mall adjacent to the stadium. If something happens in the stadium 38,000 people will have to be evacuated through that area, which will be very dangerous and impossible. These were not parking areas; these were emergency exits. Specialists and architects can prove this. UEFA and FIFA are very strict to such issues. Even more, they make us install 500 cameras in the stadium for security purposes. We must do our best to make sure the stadium will serve for the purposes of its designation.
– Aghababyan and you are from the RPA, and Serzh Sargsyan is the chief of that party. Have you asked him concerning this matter?
– Let’s not make it a political issue and it is not about the party. Being the football federation head I don’t have the right to keep silence and I must raise this issue. Generations will blame us. For example, five years ago the son of the Ukrainian president Yuschenko started to build a trade center in the adjacent area of the stadium of Kiev, but FIFA came, collapsed that building, asphalted that place and left. Even the Ukrainian president’s son could not do that. If this stadium will not be used for sports purposes, it is different, but if we are going to use it, we should not do that construction.
– The mayor of Yerevan says that the city hall has not received an application for building such center, but Aghababyan says that he is going to do that and nobody can be an obstacle for him. Even he has announced that if the state wants to take the stadium back, his expenses should be compensated. What is the solution?
– Nobody wants to take it from him because it is his property. If he wants to give it back to the state, he can do it. Even more, I am ready to invest 15 million dollars in that stadium during five years but with the condition that the football team of Armenia must play all the games in that stadium and he should take care of it.
– The head of the RPA faction Galust Sahakyan has said that the rumors concerning the stadium have political motives and it is a payback against Aghababyan.
– I don’t know what he has said, He’d be better to speak specific things and say who is the initiator. Maybe he knows something that I don’t know.
– Have you tried to meet with Aghababyan and talk to him about your proposal for investment?
– I want to meet with Aghababyan and he has been told about it, but I don’t know why he is escaping from a meeting with me. Maybe he does not find it useful or thinks that by building a trade center there he is doing a great favor to the state. Maybe he thinks we are wrong and that’s why does not want to meet me. If he doesn’t want it, I do not want it either.
– Do you know the president’s opinion about it?
– No.
– Have you tried to meet him?
– No. What should we discuss with him? What Aghababyan wants to do is an abuse against the state interests. If even the society thinks that it is an abuse, I think there is nothing to discuss there. If they call me and ask to explain, I will show documents that such construction should not be made there. If either the president or the prime-minister calls me, I will go to them, no problem. I don’t want to initiate such discussion; it is about the public and state interests.
– What is the solution?
– All the illegal decisions that have been made must be invalidated and the stadium and its all territory must be included in the list of historical and cultural objects as it was before and was later changed. Otherwise nothing can move in this country.
– Your statement in the parliament that you would visit the parliament more often became a reason for many rumors. Some people say it is because Hovik Abrahamyan is not the speaker anymore. Is it like that?
– I don’t know. Many people may say different things. I will go to the parliament till the end of this sitting. Everyone has a right for expressing opinions. I am an MP and I will go to the parliament.
– You were MP before too but you did not visit the parliament often.
– I will go there more often and I think it is a better pleasure now to work in the parliament.
– How would you explain this?
– It’s more pleasant for me to work with Samvel Nikoyan and Edward Sharmazanov.
– You have stated that you are not planning to nominate your candidacy in the coming elections. In that case, what kind of participation are you going to have in elections? Is it possible for you to participate in the activities of the RPA headquarters?
– I should conduct an active work for my party. Of course I will be at the headquarters but I might also be at Avan branch of the RPA. I’ll be wherever the RPA leader decides I should be.
– Perhaps it was only you who agreed not to run in the upcoming elections following the urge of the RA President not to have businessmen in the parliament. Other business-oriented MPs insist that they are going to run in the next elections.
– It is their business. If I wasn’t an MP I’d give more use to this country. First of all, during this period I wasn’t able to be personally involved in businesses. Secondly, I like the work of the chair of the soccer federation. The NA was “taking away” the time that I could more efficiently spend on the development of the soccer federation. This is the reason why I think that it would be better if I spend all my time on the federation and the development of soccer in Armenia. Only for this, I think that it wouldn’t be right for me to be in the NA.
– For many MPs the parliamentary mandate implies political “roof” and they hardly enjoy their duties as NA MPs.
– In general, I don’t like commenting instead of others because I don’t know their opinion about the matter and why they wish to be MPs. When I became an MP I never had the purpose of attaining a “political roof” because it’s not the mandate that can give me a “roof.” The person should be able to protect himself. I think that in our country the mandate cannot provide a “roof.” When there is a problem nobody is scared of someone else’s mandate. You should ask these people why they want to be MPs. I think that the businessmen shouldn’t be in the NA. The NA should include professionals, people, who would solely deal with legislation. And all the sectors should have people, who are able to do their work well. It is bad for any sector to have improper staff.
– The government promises to hold free and fair elections. In Avan community during elections there have always been various incidents.
– In Avan community no such incidents have ever happened.
– The ANC says that during the previous elections you have abducted their proxies, kept them in a cell and beat them…
– This is one more lie from Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Where is that proxy? Why is he not seen? Nicol Pashinyan used to scream that he was tied and beaten… They always lie. They always call the black white. I have always said this and am repeating now that in Avan elections have always been ideal. Why would the ANC proxy be abducted? For what purpose? Can any of them come to me now and say that they were even offended. Let them find someone who would testify. There is no such thing. They are even so shameless and dishonest that don’t confess that they were looking for space for their branch in Avan and couldn’t find one. So Aram Sargsyan and Andranik Kocharyan called me with a request and I rented office space for them. You can ask them. And in the end this is how they thank me. Of course, I don’t get offended from my friends. They are my friends. I haven’t done it for Levon Ter-Petrosyan but his type is to lie to people. Before the start of elections he would go to Sevan, start from my name and finishing with my name during his speeches. That was one of the ways of political maneuvering. He was trying to vilify the people close to the President so he could gain political dividends. What have I done to him back in 2007 when he would try to vilify my reputation? The elections were in February 2008. What did he want from me since fall of 2007? Is he so mad because I wasn’t next to him to support him? What did I do to him in October, November and December months of 2007? He would speak about me in Sevan, Akhuryan, Talin and other places. Who would I kidnap and beat up back then? This was a lie. I am one of the people, who clearly confess his deeds and actions unlike him. If I did I’d say I did it. I am not scared. When I make a mistake I apologize. I am not scared of them and don’t have any hang-ups. When I am right I say I did the right thing and never regret. I will never refuse that as a coward.