– How can you explain the policy of raising the gas price on the part of Russia? Does Armenia have sufficient resources not to let it happen? Do you think the Ukrainian scenario would repeat in Armenia?
– In December we had an agreement with “Gasprom”, according to which the gas price will stay the same until April. And after that gas will be provided at the price of $110. But we have a few negations to go before that. We hope that it will be less than $110 by taking into account the experience of Ukraine, however I can’t make any exact statement as long as negotiations are not over. At the end of January the Russian and Armenian presidents will meet and solve these issues. After that the government will start to use its inner resources. We’ll do our best to make sure that the gas price does not raise drastically. We’ll try not to raise the price for electrical power.
– You have announced that if the gas price increases our country will be able to reimburse it and it will not drastically affect the population. How?
– Yes. It depends on the amount of reimbursement it depends on what price we are going to agree on. That is when we will decide as to what percent we are going to reimburse – 100%, 90% or 80%. It means we should divide this issue into two parts, first, we should make sure that the electrical power price doesn’t go up and secondly, prevent the increase of gas price as much as possible.
– There are rumors according to which Russia is going to give a $100 million loan to Armenia in order to reimburse the raise of the gas price. Instead Armenia is going to give Russia the Cascade of Vorotan. Is this option being discussed during negotiations?
– We don’t need a loan. We’ll never do that. We don’t need to take a loan from Russia as Ukraine was offered, because at the present we have opportunities to take a more cost-effective non-trade loans. Besides that, we cannot sell the Cascade of Voroton, because by implementing it we are able to regulate the security of all our electric power stations.
– Is it true that Armenia is going to reimburse it through oligarchs?
– The state is not going to rely on any oligarch, nor on any loan. What shall we take from oligarchs? It’s better to take a loan. How can we take a loan from oligarchs? That state cannot take a loan from individuals.
– Recently, the expert of the International Crisis Group, Sabina Freiser, announced that the peacekeeping troops that are to be deployed in the security zone cannot include troops from countries that are cooperating with the OSCE Minsk Group. What can you say about this? Do you exclude the possibility of re-starting the war?
– The issue of peacekeeping forces has never been discussed in the country, it should be first discussed and afterwards should be decided which countries they are going to include. We support the package solution of the issue. Of course, the package version may also include certain stages. The important thing for us is what mechanisms of security are going to be used. If we agree in giving back certain territories (although we have never had realistic conversations like that) it would be very important to know what kind of status Karabagh will have during the transition period. I don’t mean the final status of Karabagh, which should be solved by a referendum. The status of an unidentified state is not acceptable for us and the final identification is our main goal. During this period we should find legal formulations in order to ensure that Karabagh receives loans, donations, and establishes relationships with other countries. At present we are the only state that gives loans to Karabagh.
– Does the Armenian Republican Party go along with conducting a referendum in Karabagh?
– It’s necessary to discuss all the components and during our assembly we announced about our approaches, that is sovereignty, or uniting with Armenia. Karabagh should not belong to Azerbaijan. There should be direct borders between Karabagh and Armenia. There shouldn’t be any dialogue about giving back or exchanging any territories. Karabagh should participate in the negotiation process.
– It is a fact that the issue of deploying peacekeepers in Karabagh is being discussed. How is Armenia going to react to two super-powers, because both the U.S.A. and the Russian Federation have different interests?
– There is no need to react at this point since we don’t have a clear picture of events. That is a technical means for us. The important thing is to know why those peacekeepers are in the region. The suggestion was made by experts, not the co-chairman and there is no need to take the words of some expert very seriously.
– During his last meeting with the coalition Robert Kocharyan asked to maintain the coalition until 2007. May we say that at present the coalition is only artificially maintained and depends only on the will of Kocharyan?
– You shouldn’t ask your question that way because the way you state it is exactly what you said. He did not ask us. Keeping the coalition is not only on Kocharyan’s behalf but also on all the parties of the coalition. None of the coalition members does anything to destroy the coalition. At the end of 2006, the pre-electoral campaign for 2007 parliamentary elections will start. And we agreed within the coalition to be together until then. But not during the elections. We don’t have an agreement to go to elections together. Therefore, at the end of the year when the pre-electoral campaign begins each party will individually decide which course to take.. We all realize that the interests of the state should be at a higher level than the party interests. This is what we discussed with Kocharyan. No one tried to convince us to keep the coalition. We understand that ourselves. ARP will do its best to keep the coalition until 2007. I realize that numerous political forces, both parliamentary and non-parliamentary, would benefit from the destruction of the coalition, as there would be wider horizons opened for them. There would a political vacuum created and they would try to occupy it. We understand that.
– Don’t you think that during the pre-election stage the competition will mainly be concentrated between the ARP and the “Prosperous Armenia”? A powerful party is being created which is going to have a majority in the next National Assembly.
– A powerful party cannot be founded within half a year or a year. It might only have powerful resources. These are different things. Our party celebrated its 15th anniversary last year and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation celebrated its 115th anniversary. Perhaps that party might use certain resources to occupy the majority in the National Assembly, however it does not mean that the party is powerful itself.
– Isn’t it true that during RA elections, financial means decide everything?
– Of course, you are right. That party will become a competitor for the ARP and other parties. It can also become a competitor for opposition parties. But it does not terrify us because we have always been in competition. It’s necessary for our party to mobilize its inner resources in order to win regardless of who the competitor is.
– There are different rumors that you personally and Serj Sargisyan have separately met with Gagik Tsarukyan and tried to persuade him not to found that party since it would mainly steal ARP’s votes. Have you had a meeting like that?
– I have a very normal, friendly relationship with Gagik Tsarukyan, as both a deputy who has supported the ARP and coalition for years and as an individual. I have meetings with him all the time and talk about the importance of founding his party, we never persuaded him not to form that party. We discuss what issues he wants to solve. Of course the party will create certain obstacles for us but we will be able to overcome them. If I am able to have normal relationships with opposition party leaders, I will have a normal relationship with Gagik Tsarukyan because I am closer with him. Mr. Tsarukyan has always been close with the government. He cannot be an oppositionist.
– In that case what’s the point of forming a few more governmental parties?
– We should not allow only three or four parties to have the power in government. There are people who were standing next to the president during the presidential elections. At the present these people are trying to reach their goals by using the government. The coalition has never privatized the government and never said that the government is only the coalition.
– If it was not by Kocharyan’s approval how could there have been so many parties being formed? And doesn’t it mean that there is a contradiction between Sargisyan and Kocharyan?
– There is no need to jump to similar conclusions. We have been with Sargisyan since 2003 and we continue to cooperate. It depends on Sargisyan’s negations and mine on how our relations will be in the future. It’s too early to speak about that right now. The “Prosperous Armenia” political party has not been formed just now. It just does a lot of organizational work right now. It was formed without the consent of Kocharyan. They are not active now either and it’s not yet clear how the party will develop and what issues they are trying to solve. Kocharyan does not tell anyone to form or not to form a party.
– The NA People’s Deputy Group has also applied to be registered as a party. What is your opinion on businessmen forming political parties?
– The ARP, ARF and the Legal State parties also include businessmen. The interesting thing is that the businessmen are currently trying to solve their issues not through parties, but through their own parties. The thing is that the new parties are not going to say anything new in politics. The Armenian Republic needs a leftist ideology. And none of the newly established parties belong to the left wing. They are mainly center-oriented and a bit right-oriented. We, being a national liberal party, do not have competitors in the government. It means that we also protect the interests of businessmen. The ideologies of those parties are going to be artificial. Their purpose is to occupy a wider political field on behalf of their capital, but that’s not the important thing. For us the important things are the interests of the state, maintenance of security and creation of an equal field for all businessmen, not a group of them. Thus, our political field is much wider than theirs.
– You have always kept the issue of ARP’s becoming an opposition in the agenda of your party. What is the reason?
– Opposition against certain issues but not the state. This does not mean that as soon as we become part of the opposition we’re going to demand a change in government or the president’s impeachment.
– Do you have such prerequisites?
– No. I hope not.
– They say the picture of the future NA is already drawn, where the ARP and the “Prosperous Armenia” are the majority, and the Legal Sate along with the National Unity are the opposition.
– We wish to maintain our positions or strengthen them. The process of drawing such conclusions is very theoretical. No one knows what will happen. A new political field is being formed, and the results might be surprising for us.
– Will the ARP go to elections on its own or will go as an alliance?
– At present we have decided to go to elections on our own. There is still time before 2007, but currently we wish to go alone.
– Will the ARP have a presidential candidate in 2008?
– We will speak about this when we have the results of the 2007 elections.
– Do you think the new constitution will allow Kocharyan to be elected for a third term?
– No, it won’t. Besides that he personally announced that he won’t run for a third term. That’s why I don’t think he’ll nominate his candidacy for a third time. But it does not mean that he will not be involved in politics or will not try to reach his goals in the political field.
– Aren’t you planning to take the quota of the Minister of Culture from the Legal State, which had to replace the minister three times so far?
– If we take this position to the Legal State we will have to give another minister’s position to them.
– Shouldn’t we feel sorry for the Armenian culture for having a minister like that?
– But which ministry shall we give to them? The ARP does not have a minister to exchange with the Legal State. They have negotiated with the ARF without results. The ARP does not have a social ministry, those either belong to the Legal State or the ARF. Thus, the Legal State and the ARF should agree on this issue. I hope that they will take into account the notorious past of the former ministers while appointing the third one. It’s a pity that Mr. Hoveyan resigned not because of his professional but rather personal mistakes.