– Most of the opposition powers say that your suggestion to organize discussions not only with the opposition powers, but also with the governmental powers in order to be able to overcome the existing problems of the state was “romanticism”. However, ANM chair Ararat Zurabyan does not exclude that in the future Levon Ter-Petrosyan may meet with the leaders of “Prosperous Armenia” and the Republican Party of Armenia. What do you think about it?
– It has become an established tradition that when the NU comes up with a suggestion, everyone suspects in it (which significantly differs from the other suggestions). Besides that, they also blame me for political romanticism. Yes, two months ago at Metelitsa cafe I spoke about the stance of our party, which is that the existing problems and challenges are undermining our state, thus we should unite the powers, which feel responsibility and are clever, in order change with ideas with the authorities at a round table to prevent those problems. When I said this, my counterparts blamed me for political romanticism. Certainly, I answered that pragmatism and romanticism help a politician be better. It is more than 17 years that I am not an official and don’t have a high rank position, as for our party, it was founded 10 years ago, thus since its foundation the NU has been opposition, which means already that we are pragmatic. This is an established fact. You can’t be a politician in such specific country as Armenia, who relies on established approaches only. The extraordinary situation, which we have now, makes us look for non-standard solutions, which will be a surprising for our “counterparts”. As for them, I am sure that they are doing their best to separate the political leadership in the country so that not to let them solve the problems and challenges of the state. They are doing it through supporting separate candidates and helping them act against the authorities, helping them to criticize the authorities. Do you remember what the Turkish and Azeri media wrote about an Armenian politician, who had given estimations about the conflict of Karabakh; they praised him. Thus, in this situation I thought that the meeting of Levon Ter-Petrosyan with ARF, as well as the announcement of the ANM chair that they don’t exclude the possibility that Ter-Petrosyan may meet with PA and ARP as well was quite positive. Such meetings shall not be done without any purpose, they should not be just means of disinformation and disorientation of the society in order to show to people that the old times are forgotten and there will be a new era in the history of Armenia… Such meetings may be acceptable by people only in case they openly speak about the problems of the country such as the facts that Armenia is losing its economic competition with Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan has made an alliance with Turkey and Georgia and that Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing better relations with Iran, which is out of our interests. It is a pity, but there are more challenges that we have faced. Thus, when we compare all these facts with the policies of the parties and the internal political situation, we don’t know whether we should cry or laugh. Now please imagine that we are in 2020 and are trying to analyze all what is happening now. You will see that the priority issue to escape from those dangerous problems is being ignored by the leaders of the parties and does not become a core issue for discussions. An imagination is established that there is only one goal, which is to show the country in black or white colors and as a result of that to separate the nation; who does not support Levon Ter-Petrosyan, he/she is a traitor, who does not support Kocharyan or Serzh Sargsyan, he/she wants instability in the country. It is not good. Today people should realize that the existing political leadership may be remembered by the future generations of Armenia as short-sighted people, who drove the nation to separation. We don’t want to stay in the history like that and that is why we sacrifice ourselves and say that the political team of Kocharyan and Sargsyan should sit for discussion at a round table with Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Geghamyan, Hayrikyan, M. Gasparyan, A. Baghdasaryan, Sh.Kocharyan and others. They should discuss what role each of us has in this country and what corresponding responsibilities we have, but not the issue of distributing positions. There should be one goal, which is consolidating the nation. Indeed, when you read newspapers they seem very disappointing. Is there a need to describe the existing situation in a manner, which is a battle between two forces, one of which wants to destruct the system, the other wants to press down the instability and prove that strong power establishes rights in our country? It is not the way it should be done. Both these two powers, the existing and previous authorities, should understand that if they want to stay in the history with a good name, they can do it, however they should understand that there is no remission of sins without confession. Both these powers have to remiss their sins and ask for confession from people for the numerous bad things they have done. If they understand this and act within the frames of morality, I assure that the moral and political situation in the country will change. Our society has a great demand to forgive sins. Maybe this is due to the history when we were not forgiven even for the sins that we did not do. Don’t go to political party offices, go to the remotest village of Vardenis and visit a grandma, whose child or husband has left overseas to earn money. Go and say sorry to them, go and say that it is up to you, say that it is due to you that their relatives had to leave their home to keep their families.
– Who should do it? Ter-Petrosyan?
– Yes, Ter-Petrosyan, Kocharyan, Sargsyan, also Geghamyan, the other oppositionists because the problem concerns us too since we have failed to change the situation in the country in a manner so that to ensure everyone running for president thinks that after winning he will become the moral leader of the country, but not a leader, who can do whatever he wants once he gets the power. No one wants to show a way. By destructing or preventing destruction you can’t inspire hope in the people. Armenia may survive and develop only in case when each Armenian understands that he is needed first of all in his country. After understanding this we will be able to change from our undesirable and unpredictable expectations to actions targeted to ruling our own future. If we don’t understand it, if we don’t understand that being united we will not lose, our efforts will not bring to any results. If the architectures of such definitions don’t exist or the potential future designers of the new ways have been exiled from the environment, if the situation is like a ruling power based on political gossip, which main goal is to be liked by the people at present and they don’t care about the future at all, it means that the country is faced with a big problem. It shouldn’t be allowed.
– As the suggestion was made by you, do you think cooperation is possible between the authorities and the opposition “in favor of the Republic of Armenia”?
– Such possibility depends on the foresight of the political party leaders. If it exists, it means that not everything has been lost. If no, everyone, yes everyone should leave the political positions and let them for people, who feel great personal responsibility not depending on whether they are from the opposition or the government. At least, they should understand one thing: if the state and the nation are in danger, they cannot be black and white. There is one nation, and in case of danger all we should unite. I suggested the potential candidates for presidency to meet and come to agreement at least over one issue, the issue of Karabakh. Some people were suspicious, some others blamed me, but there was only one purpose, which is not to allow anyone use the issue of Karabakh in the pre-election period. Couldn’t they unite over that purpose? They could, furthermore, it was necessary, however no one supported our proposal. We should be very careful to that issue.
– Indeed a new bloc is being formed under Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s umbrella. Do you see yourself in that bloc?
– This question itself is insulting for us since I am talking about addressing issues, which are globally important for our nation. It excludes any possibility of forming blocs. I want to address general ideas and specify the roles of any political party. When there are no new ideas, the challenges are not defined, and the ways of their solution are not seen, the situation becomes complicated and you cannot just say that the system should be collapsed in order to decide the future steps. I don’t agree with such approach. I mean that it is better to describe the situation first, propose solutions and then petition the people for help.
– You are one of those persons, who have met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan and it is supposed that you know what he is going to do after destructing this system. Haven’t you talked about it? You have also said that you would inform whether you think it necessary to take part in the rally of October 26 when the organizers informed about the proposed event and other relative details. Isn’t it clear to you that their goal is changing the existing regime?
– I believe there can be only one purpose, which is Armenia’s stabile development. Is it possible to do in the tenure of the existing authorities? No. One of the most powerful factors for that purpose is the consolidation of the nation. Is it possible to do in the tenure of the existing authorities? No. The reason is not the fact that the NU is not a part of the government, but the fact that over 400.000 voters have given their votes to the opposition, which is almost equal to the number of citizens, who didn’t take part in the elections generally. It means that over 700.000 voters don’t believe that the existing authorities have consolidation power. There are two ways to change this situation. The first way is dismissing the National Assembly and organizing new elections without violations, intimidation and bribery. The second way is ensuring exclusively fair presidential elections. Based on such results political compromise may be reached to recruit those people in the government, who are entrusted by the mentioned 700.000 citizens. When the people feel protected, they will see that the people they trust are in the government, thus it will be possible to change something in the consciousness of the people. They will understand that the political leadership has understood its mistakes and the fact that no one can benefit from separation and the entire nation will lose. This is the best and demandable solution. Let’s not close our eyes at the existing situation and confess that the Kocharyan-Sargsyan tandem has majority in the parliament. Let’s imagine that the next president is a person, who does not say that I am coming to destruct but to establish a connecting bridge between the existing authorities and those who are out of the power by viewing their roles not as separate powers, but powers entrusted by majority of citizens. As for this bridge, its purpose will be clear and acceptable, which is consolidation of the nation and creation of a corresponding political competition environment. Indeed, today there are no pre-conditions for fair political competition.
– Do you mean that they will lose?
– Yes, alas they are historically faced with that problem and will lose. I said ‘alas’ since I don’t want them be in a bad situation as human beings. Even if they will, it will not be honored victory. They will see that they haven’t done anything good for the nation but collapsed it. The NU understand this and will try to discuss these issues openly with the public, thus on the basis of such discussions will decide whether to nominate its candidate for presidency or no. We should offer an alternative way to the people, which will differ from the way of the existing and previous authorities. If the content of the exaggerated campaign of the existing and previous authorities does not change, the future of our country will not be secure. In a word, the NU does not have a problem to join this or that political blocs. I believe our approaches will be welcomed by people and our ideas will have many followers. If we understand this, we will be able to overcome the existing dangerous phase with minimum losses. And if people don’t understand it, both the existing and previous authorities will have more liabilities. This is a condition, which we don’t support. If the bells are ringing in our country, we won’t ask for whom they are ringing. They are ringing for everyone.