Yesterday in the session hall of the government the 7th “Armprodexpo-2007” was launched. President Robert Kocharyan also took part in the opening of “Armprodexpo-2007”, an international exhibition displaying the achievements of about 60 local producers in the sphere of the procession of agricultural products, such as alcohol, canned products, meat product, dairy products, bakery, juice and mineral water, cigarettes, etc. After going round the pavilions and tasting almost from each of them, he also responded to the questions of the journalists. More accurately, the President answered the questions of only two journalists. After one of the question about opposition the President has started to thoroughly comment on that. We are publishing this Q&A.
– Let me just speak about my impression and then you will ask questions. I participate in such Expos with more pleasure year by year because the results of the works done are most obvious here. My impression is very high and I have a great mood after seeing all this progress. I have seen many new things, new products, new quality and packaging and new approaches in general. And let me tell you when speaking to the farmers I realized they are also intending to extend to the international markets and to conform to international standards. We should create opportunities for them to have more space. In general the product goes to the market through Expos. I am very satisfied. There are new firms, the history of which is only 2-3 years but they show a great success. Almost all of them are saying that they are having a hard time to cover the demand. It means that there is demand and productive competition.
– Doesn’t AMD reevaluation affect the competition of the local producers in the result of which it is more profitable to import than export?
– We have turned to renowned international experts for an assessment of the revaluation of the national currency. “We were told that we are in a reasonable process. This is the opinion of the authoritative experts of the IMF and other financial organizations. Secondly, you should compare the revaluation of the dram not only to the U.S. market but also to the euro. The difference is not great and corresponds to the rate of the economic development. In a country where a high rate of economic growth is sustained for seven years running the currency is revaluated. Compare it to the Russian market, the Russian currency, among the others, is quite normal over here.
– Mr. President, do you find it possible that an opposition businessman will never be persecuted? Let me bring the example of Bjni.
– I am not aware of detail of the audit at the companies owned by Khachatur Sukiasyan and perhaps I don’t have to be aware of the results of every audit but you must know that our tax policy is consistent with everyone, and every businessman, either pro-government or opposition, as you put it, everyone is equal for the tax administration. At the end of the year the list of the major taxpayers will be released, as the tax service always does, and you will see how much more taxes they all have paid. Everyone, including members of parliament who are also known to be businessmen. In other words, there are people who understand that the government has adopted an anti-corruption policy and is consistent, there are people who are reluctant to hide less profit, and they are trying to politicize this issue, and are raising this rumpus to pay less taxes. There are people who understand that the state has adopted an anti-corruption strategy and is consistent. There are also people who do not want to reduce the shadowy segment of their business and are trying to politicize the matter, make noise and, to put it bluntly, become hysterical in order to pay less money to the budget. I would also like to announce that this rumpus will not lead them anywhere. A conscientious taxpayer is always respected in the Republic of Armenia. Besides, when we release the results of this audit, you will see that this businessman cheated the Republic of Armenia.
– Mr. President, do you believe the likelihood of the opposition to put up a common candidate in the upcoming presidential elections?
– I am a little surprised that the political activists and especially people who refer to themselves as political scientists focus on the problem of the common candidate. I cannot understand what this notion of common candidate means. We have witnessed an unsuccessful attempt by the Justice Alliance when people with different approaches joined for a single purpose of getting a seat in the parliament. You all know how this alliance ended up. There is only one prize in this election. Only one will get the prize. By the way, according to the new Constitution, the president will not even have the power to nominate other participants who supported him for ministerial posts. According to the new Constitution, he does not have such a power because the executive is nominated by the parliament, and the distribution of forces in the parliament is already evident. The question occurs whether the people who think Armenia should join NATO and the people who are for promoting relations with Russia can work together. Or the issues concerning the foreign policies. It was a surprise for me but it became clear that there are also political forces in Armenia who think our main partners should be Turkey and Azerbaijan. I had never expected such a pro-Turkish stance, even from the All-Armenian Movement. And I did not think that later Armenia may appear in the hug of Turkey. If there are people who share this approach or political parties, they are welcome to come together, but please do tell us what future you envisage for Armenia.
– How would you evaluate the chance of the first president?
– Let us wrap up. I don’t want to personify anything. I just wish good luck.