“Don’t suspect that I will be actively involved in the elections, I am currently working on that. I am meeting with different people to find out what they suggest and what they can do”, said Ara Abrahamyan in March, 2005.
He confirmed this during his meeting with journalists at the hall of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. But Mr. Abrahamyan still hasn’t decided whom to support. “Of course I can’t stay alienated from the elections because over 500.000 voters live in Russia now. Of course I will have my own approach. In order to make a decision on whom to support, I must know their approach and political programs. Before supporting, we must know what kind of responsibilities they will take and what they will do if elected. We must know whether they will fulfill their promises and programs or not. I have supported the “Ramkavars”. I have supported all the powers that have asked me for help”.
It is worth mentioning that Ara Abrahamyan has supported Arthur Baghdasaryan too and he once said that he might support him again if nominated for the president’s position in 2008. “I think Arthur Baghdasaryan is a very good guy, he is talented and has a good position now, I think he is going to succeed and I am happy to support him. We bought 400 computers within the framework of a program proposed by him. He hasn’t told me that he wants to become president. I don’t know what he wants to become in the future. If there is anyone that has a good program, a good team and wants to be elected in the president’s position, I will support him”.
Armenian citizens living in Moscow say that Ara Abrahamyan meets with Arthur Baghdasaryan often. They even say that the former head of the parliament was flattering with the head of the Armenians’ union during those meetings. Of course, it’s quite possible that Arthur Baghdasaryan believes that he will appear in the scenario of Saakashvili and Youshchenko and will be the next president elected on the basis of European standards in 2008. If it is so, there will be so many sponsors to back him that he will not need Ara Abrahamyan’s help any more.
In spite of this, Ara Abrahamyan said that he was disappointed about the activities of A. Baghdasaryan to move towards NATO and stay far from Russia. Generally, Ara Abrahamyan said that he didn’t like the idea that some Rule of Law businessmen members had left the party. “But everyone has a right to make a choice”, said A. Abrahamyan, “Maybe this decision was the only solution in that situation. They have made their decision and time will show who is right or not. I will not make any prompt and baseless announcements; I don’t want to blame anyone”.
“There is no one that I can call”
Recently, Ara Abrahamyan met with some youth NGOs and students from the Armenian Diaspora. The purpose of this meeting was to found a youth branch of the congress, whose purpose is to establish contacts between the Armenian youth chapters, exchange information, support each other and create a strong institution. According to head of the Russian Armenians’ union, there still aren’t strong ties between Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
“It is absurd that state officials don’t talk about an institution that exists and operates more than six years (the Armenians’ union). Silence is not a good solution; if we have something to say, we must say it. I hope the coming meeting with the president will be a success. I am interested in our relations, our ideology, the Genocide and Karabagh issues, and the domestic economical issues”, said Ara Abrahamyan.
He said that he hoped to get answers to those questions today during his meeting with the president. He also said that he was disappointed about the fact that the domestic powers and the organizations operating out of Armenia don’t back each other and don’t collaborate. “On April 23 Vigen Abrahamyants was killed in Moscow. I went there as fast as I could and did whatever I could. Then I thought whom to call to inform about this incident. Then I was disappointed because there was no one I could call. I don’t have partners, for example, in the U.S. whom I can call and tell them to mobilize one hundred people and make a rally. When these kinds of tragedies happen we should all gather together and support each other. For instance we could make a rally not far from the Russian Embassy. I called some organizations, whose names I don’t want to mention, they said that they were not involved in such activities. I talked to all the organizations that you know, but no one wanted to support and join us”, said Ara Abrahamyan.