– Levon Ter-Petrosyan said in his recent speech that he thought it necessary to rename the movement as Armenian National Congress, which will implement its future activities through a shadow government. Will you join this movement?
– There were many good surprises for me in Ter-Petrosyan’s speech. The suggestion of establishing the Armenian National Congress is one of such surprises. This form of cooperation will pursue the same goal to make decisions in one place, thus I think that the suggestion to implement the activities through one institution is very natural and of course I will support them. Involvement in electoral processes through a shadow government is a famous method. Unfortunately in our country electoral processes are not proceeding normally, accordingly no party has participated in elections through a shadow cabinet. Certainly it will be better if the opposition shows which is the team that will implement their programs and plans. However, this issue still needs to be discussed and I cannot give a final answer. As for me, I am participating in this process without any expectations and ambitions.
– The political poles are discussing the possibility of a dialog, but nothing has been done for this purpose so far.
– If the government has problems with the society, such problems cannot be solved through opposition leaders. The government is the one to solve its problems. If they do it, our role will not be so significant any more and there will be no need for dialog with us. In order to solve their problems with the society they have to tell the truth. They should undertake steps aimed at showing that they can do good things. They want to use our influence for their purposes. If I say things that correspond to the interests of the state, people will not look my way any more. Accordingly, the problem concerns the relations with the society. The regime thinks that by solving its problems with the opposition they can solve the problems with the society. It is the vice versa; they can solve the problems with the opposition through solving the problems with the society. Of course having a dialog with the opposition has certain purposes, but it will be beneficial if they undertake some steps to solve the problems with the society. The first president has developed specific preconditions. These things have been suggested as preconditions by the Europeans as well. These items are very important and should be done. It is demagogy to say that preconditions are not important.
– Levon Ter-Petrosyan abstained from criticizing Serzh Sargsyan in his speech. He blamed only Robert Kocharyan of the events of March 1. This is the reason for the rumors that the first president is stepping back. What do you think, why the first president abstained from criticizing Serzh Sargsyan? Does this mean that the first president has compromised and agreed upon certain things?
– The first president emphasized that Robert Kocharyan is the one who is formally responsible for the events of March 1. It takes away Serzh Sargsyan’s political responsibility for the events. Furthermore, he must prove that the situation is controlled by him and he is not the soldier of Kocharyan’s regime. As for the first president of Armenia, he will never compromise with the interests of the society and will struggle for the purpose of having legal authorities in Armenia. I believe there is no doubt concerning this fact.
– It seems that there are some disagreements within the RPA concerning implementation of the PACE resolution requirements. Some of them say that all requirements should be done (for instance, the head of the NA faction on state and legal affairs Davit Harutyunyan), others think that the requirements should be done partially (speaker Tigran Torosyan, MP Rafik Petrosyan).
– I think that those people who are making announcements in the name of the RPA soon will be shame of their announcements. I don’t want to say the names of these people.
– The same people say that they will set the prisoners free if the opposition recognizes the legitimacy of the presidential election.
– The right for choice has been initially given to people by the God, and these people want to deprive citizens from that right. It cannot happen and we don’t recognize the outcome of this election. However, the government is a factor and there are problems to be discussed with it. Such problems can be solved only when the parties are discussing the problems on an equal level and there are no political hostages.
– RPA faction member Samvel Nikoyan said the following concerning Ter-Petrosyan’s speech: “I hope this is at least perception of guilt.” Do you have the same imagination?
– Mr. Nikoyan may have a big wish and personal interest to express such opinion, maybe he is trying to solve the political problems of their party, but it will be better if they stay accountable to their conscience when making such announcements. If everything were as these politicians from the RPA think, there would be credibility in the society toward the authorities and there would be no need for dialog, MPs would not be arrested, the issues of depriving Armenia of its voting right in the PACE and suspending the Millennium Challenge program would not be discussed. Accordingly, Mr. Nikoyan likes living in such country.
– Do you think that Tigran Sargsyan really has a will to implement reforms?
– When the society sees that the government has not been elected by its vote, in such case there may be one definition only – “usurpation of the power.” In such situation it is not important already whether the people in the government were connected with those violations, are professional or no, whether they can make serious changes, etc. All they are becoming a part of that usurped power. The society, through its participation in judicial proceedings, congresses and if they can small gatherings, proves that they haven’t recognized the outcome of the election and want changes. I believe there will be such changes in this country. The time factor is essential now and the society wants changes right now, and the opposition has to make such changes as soon as possible. Neither the authorities can continue this way, nor can the society live this way any more. This is the reason why the international institutions want to solve the problem through dialog in order to escape from new clashes. The authorities are the one who should undertake the main initial step, otherwise if there are any such clashes, they will be responsible for all such clashes as it happened during the events of March 1.
– Do you think that the tendency of growth of prices may bring to a social riot?
– I am for political struggle. Certainly economy is an integral part of politics, but I wish change of authorities could happen in Armenia not as a result of social movement, but as a result of political movement. The only thing that can make Armenia be acceptable as a serious factor in the region is democracy, i.e. when the government and society are united. It can happen only through fair elections. This fair election should be presidential election because the parliament of our country has become an adjacent institution. Changing the parliament will not be accepted by the society as change of the government. That is why presidential elections are always the most active. As for increase of prices, people don’t think that it is a result of international processes, but a result of corruption and bribery within the government. We understand that prices have been increased in the international arena as well, but the society does not believe in the words of the government because of the fact that they were cheated and their rights were violated during the election.
– The opposition will celebrate the anniversary of the Yerkrapah Union and liberation of Shoushi on May 8, 9. May these celebrations become spontaneous demonstrations?
– When the society feels ignored and unsatisfied, when it feels that there is a wall of ignorance, it is trying to pass that wall and the number of people who want to pass that wall is increasing day by day.