– Mr. Sargsyan, have you discussed the possibility of pulling out from the ANC? What decision did you make about that?
– On Friday, the broad session of the party will take place, where we’ll make a decision by taking into account the opinions of everyone.
– But what are the moods of your party mates and members in relation to this possibility?
– The majority of my loyalists think that it would be a better idea to be in politics on our own. Everything starts and ends at some point. There is no need to see any drama in that. I don’t think by our step we are harming the ANC. On the contrary, we are helping them to come to a consensus. We don’t express our discontent or doubts about the future plans of the Congress. For a certain period of time, our approaches were similar and that is the reason why the ANC declaration was signed. Everything was right in 2008. We went through certain processes. By deflecting from the coalition we are not trying to prove anything to anyone. Our visions for the future and the development have started to drastically differ. In the future, in the event if they make the right steps it is quite possible that we will continue our ties and cooperation with certain member parties of the Congress. The personal relations remain because we have gone through a lot together.
– What conflicts of interests or disagreements do you have with the ANC leadership?
– The first President of Armenia was the first to speak about the disagreements within the Congress last fall. After that I personally said that the reason of absence of consensus is linked to me. And after that problems have been coming up regarding geopolitical, internal and tactical approaches. In this regard, I have publicly announced that the media has been doing certain forecasts and analyses. Now I don’t think it’s right to speak about the old and new stuff. Let’s move forward and we’ll see how the process develops. Let God make them right.
– How would you comment on the statement of your party colleague and head of Gyumri branch of ANC Ashot Zakaryan? And please let us know what you think about the statement of the chair of Armenia’s Liberal Party Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, who said that he was against the ANC’s intention to take on the parliamentary mandates?
– It is very natural. The Congress was formed after the presidential elections and has set certain priorities for itself. It kept the people politically active for a certain period of time, resolved certain issues, etc. It did a great job. This stage has passed. The Congress entered the second stage, formed the ANC alliance, by which it entered the parliament and completed the process. And now people are expressing their opinions. And we should surely respect their opinions. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the people, who deflect from the coalition are traitors and don’t wish for the goodwill of this nation. Those people who have opinions but don’t bring them up are the ones that are sold.
– There is an opinion that one of your main disaccords is that you are pro-western and Ter-Petrosyan has mostly a pro-Russian orientation. Besides that, you have certain ties and contacts with the authorities.
– It can also be viewed that way. But I am Vazgen Sargsyan’s brother and have entered politics after my brother and I thought that I shouldn’t seek vengeance but instead continue his mission. As a model for democracy I see the pro-western model. Unfortunately, Russia is in a similar state like Armenia. I support the idea of a democratic Russia. I love Russian literature; I know the language but I can’t learn any democratic lessons or models from them. And if they consider me pro-western for that, I don’t mind. As of my relations with the government, you know that even during Kocharyan’s tenure, when my elder brother was killed, my youngest brother was a suspect of murder and my mother was in front of the President’s office. The prosecutor’s office was inspecting my economic activities through various channels. They weren’t able to break me and I was continuing my rallies. Even Robert Kocharyan was suggesting that I quit politics. I assure you that I wouldn’t have any social-economic issues even if I quit now. I would become one of the richest people of this country. But that is not the issue that I am trying to solve. I want the people to have pride because I don’t think that the people who were bribed during elections had done so with pleasure. People need help and therefore I direct all my efforts to resolve these issues. And I think I will succeed in that.
– Do you wish to continue the “street struggle”?
– Unfortunately, in Armenia politics is not formed as a result of elections. That is the reason why 99% of the opposition appears outside. And only 10-20% of them succeed in having mandates. Even these people cannot solve any issues. And I don’t see anything bad in my intention to stay on the street with the people. Let them consider me “street opposition.” I think that in countries like Armenia problems are solved through democratic revolutions. I have seen the February 20 of 2003, February 26 of 2008. It is the same people and such things are possible through accurate work.
– There is an opinion that the Republic is going to closely cooperate with the Heritage because the latter is considered a pro-western party.
– I have mentioned that we are willing to cooperate with any political party, who haven’t taken the responsibility for the events of March 1. I am willing to cooperate with the rest of political parties regardless of their political views and stances. I really want this country to undergo systematic reforms and it starts from the government. And it cannot be done only by relying on ideological approaches. Certain steps should be taken.
– In your opinion, why wasn’t the Congress able to have more success and wasn’t able to have more than 7% of ballots?
– There has been no consensus on this matter. And I stick to the opinion that Congress could gain more votes in the case of a free and fair race. I always thought that ANC has 90% of the votes in the country.
– And is it because of the policy of the ANC or the wide-spread corruption of the government on the E-day that deprived the ANC gain more votes?
– These two factors have similarly affected the vote outcome. I don’t think that we actually had elections in this country. What we had on May 6 are not elections. So here it is not a good idea to speak about ratings or results. But the society remained answerless about a variety of matters. The limited votes of the ANC were also connected with the latter’s cooperation with the Prosperous Armenia and ARF. If you are stating that the PAP had a wonderful rally and the PAP leader says that his party will not ever forgive the ones, who steal their votes, you automatically say that the PAP is the winner. And the society always wants to stay next to the winner. That is the reason why the PAP gained so many votes as opposed to the ANC.
– Did the PAP take votes from the ANC?
– I am sure of that.