– To what extent does the message of the EPP chair Wilfried Martens made during the 13th congress of RPA conform to European and democratic standards? In his message he said, “I am sure that in a few weeks you will win the parliamentary elections.”
– I can guess that the EPP chair was expressing his wish, prediction and conviction. I am glad that in Armenia the ideology of European values was able to spread that speedily and currently some political parties have members who pretend to be more European than the Europeans themselves. In fact, it means that they have a very perfunctory understanding of the value system. One of the media agencies wrote that they EPP demands Martens’s resignation. The secretary of EPP was in Yerevan and he read that article. He smiled and said that wouldn’t like to comment on strange things. As of the secret visit of the prime minister and myself in Brussels I should say that even imagination should have limits in order not to be counter-argued by a single fact. It is not difficult to check that the prime minister was in Armenia on those days based on his working schedule.
– At any rate, doesn’t this message mean interference into the internal affairs of Armenia and the electoral processes? Or has there been a preliminary agreement for the victory?
– I am very glad that the immense European political family, which we became a member of, has such a big trust in the incumbent president of Armenia and the Armenian government as well as RPA. They just gave a very high evaluation to the government. I am sorry but the rest is slander and even deep frustration on part of others.
– RA president and RPA chair Serzh Sargsyan stated during the RPA congress that people have a “harmless envy for all the good things that exist outside Armenia and that they are sorry that the same doesn’t exist here. What bans us from changing it?” In about a week, the chair of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan almost said the same thing in a different formulation, by saying, “how does it turn out that when the Armenian migrates to a different country become able to bet better off in a year or two, find a job, open workplaces and in the meantime Armenians living in Armenia cannot do so?”
– I am sure that there is not a single politician of president Sargsyan’s caliber in Armenia. One of the strengths of the president is that he is really sincere even during the most important, official speech. And his speeches always get the unique reaction on part of the society. And the society sees a leader who lives with the same issues as the other members of the society and he feels sorry about not having what we could have. And we have many obstacles. We are being banned by a phenomenon, which has become enrooted since 2000. I mean that fact that we have parties, which are members of the coalition and the government but tend to play opposition similar to what the Prosperous Armenia has done.
– There has been tension between the RPA and PA for over a year now. There were some moments when we thought the PA would deflect from the coalition. And the impression wasn’t only the deflection from the coalition. And the impression was not that only PA was going to deflect from the coalition. There was also an impression that Serzh Sargsyan wouldn’t let them do so. If that happened the Prosperous Armenia could have openly brought Robert Kocharyan back to the political field.
– Every political party, besides the internal party interest, should also have state stable interests. Let’s speak about the upcoming elections, for instance. It seems that among all the other parties RPA is the only political force responsible not only for its election outcomes but also the results of all the other parties and the process of elections in general. It seems that all the others have left this responsibility to us to guarantee that everybody is satisfied of the election results. From here we have some differences of principles.
– During the congress the newly recruited PA member Vardan Oskanyan said that “people leave Armenia because of injustice, they lost their hope and trust about the future of the country and are not even able to work their daily bread.”
– I have always been unserious to all the politicians, whose way of thinking and opinions depend on certain circumstances, desired posts and political force they join.
– From what you mentioned we may assume that if Oskanyan once again occupies a high post, such as his former post of foreign affairs minister or any other high rank, he will stop raising the issues and criticizing.
– He is already demonstrating such a behavior but from the other way around.
– You are saying partial responsibility but when we are speaking about the fallacies of the 20-year old history of Armenia – economic failures, defects, election fraudulence, bribery, robbery and monopolies you party comrades claim that the grounds are within the former government. It means that the political party that’s been in government for a long time avoids a full responsibility.
– You can never quote such a thing expressed by the RPA or our party members. Have you ever heard me publicly criticizing the Legal State or the ARF for their policies in the education sector? We are merely saying that we are political elite and all the parties in government are accountable in this or the other way. Our past, present and future is common.
– Let me repeat the question of Serzh Sargsyan, “what hinders us to change?”
– We are changing. Believe me, we are doing so.
– So change so we could believe you.
– I can say that we are really changing. The country has changed a lot during the past 4 years. This is not only our observation. What we wouldn’t imagine in the 90s is currently possible.
– For example what?
– A better feeling for justice, higher level of freedom of speech, trust toward the statehood.
– In that case, why are people migrating?
– The official numbers don’t speak about big wave of migration. During 10 years 100,000 people have migrated. Of course, every Armenian is a value for Armenia. And it’s a big pity that currently the country doesn’t have big opportunities and conditions to turn migration into immigration. But we have also understood another thing – we don’t avoid responsibilities but one of the reasons of this migration is the existence of spoilt SUV drivers, who not only ignored the red lights, but would also run over citizens. And they were not punished for that. Another reason for migration is that the business of certain people is flourishing very fast.
– You are saying that you are changing. But the RPA proportional list and the nominated majoritarian candidates don’t prove that.
– This is slander. Please draw a comparison. Vice versa, we were the first to publicize the list and everybody criticized us. Then we saw the lists of others. At least compare our current list with the 2007 list.
– But this time again you businessmen, oligarchs and people with criminal reputation on the list and as majoritarian candidates.
– We don’t have any criminals. And no businessmen will come to parliament by RPA’s list.
– Arakel Movsisyan, Nahapet Gevorgyan, Vardan Ayvazyan, Ara Babloyan, Hermine Naghdalyan and others.
– They are politicians, who also get to have property.
– The RPA hasn’t fulfilled its main promises stipulated in the program of 2007, hasn’t increased salaries, stipends, gross domestic product.
– The RPA made almost all the substantial reforms stipulated by the program. If your remark refers to social- economical development indices, the President made a brief but comprehensive presentation on the comparative analyses of the last 5 years in his speech. Concerning the main indices, I may say that Armenia gradually overcomes crises, however let me remind that it was in world crisis. In Europe, as far as I know, only Poland has had corresponding economic growth.
– Serzh Sargsyan announced during an event organized by Legal State, that “You were able to demonstrate that politics is morality.” However the cooperation between the Legal State and the RPA, and the inclusion of people, who have been criticizing the government and Serzh Sargsyan in particular, in the RPA electoral list comes to prove that the above-mentioned statement is wrong.
– I guess the way from criticism to partnership is more moral than vice versa.
– They say you want to be back to the National Assembly.
– You want me to comment on a regular order made by the media? I already did on Facebook.
– In any case, do you want leave the executive and take up the legislative once again?
– If you confess that you are the golden fish and can make all my wishes come true I will tell you. If you are not then this conversation is meaningless.
– You have been one of the most successful politicians during the last few years. Have you asked the golden fish to be one?
– Thank you for the words like “successful,” “politician.” In fact I am always busy with work. What is to the golden fish, then if you remember the fairy tale all the wishes come true at once. Mainly lazy people rely on golden fishes.
– According to the prevailing opinion in the upcoming elections the main rival of the RPA is Prosperous Armenia.
– I can make brief analyses of the current pre-electoral situation. A few months ago the Prosperous Armenia was the people’s favorite, but now it is obvious that it loses votes in this stage of political competition. The RPA mobilizes slowly, but in case it starts, it is very difficult to stop it. In Old Greece there were people next to geniuses who were smart and powerful. Old Greeks named them “chronic beta”, the first ones were called “chronic alpha.” In the RA political field the RPA will be the “chronic alpha” of the next 5 years.
– If the RPA becomes the expected “chronic alpha” after the parliamentary elections, is it going to make a coalition with the Legal State, ARF, and Prosperous Armenia, taking into account the previous and current coalition experience with the mentioned political powers?
– I am sure, the RPA will play a leading role after the elections. The roles of the other political parties will become clear when we have the final election results.
P.S. The interview with Ashotyan took place yesterday after office hours.