– Armenian government began to raise issues about improving the social-economical situation, relieving the life of peasants, combating against corruption. ANC has livened up its activities and rallies, the “Heritage” faction boycotts NA sessions, Raffi Hovhannisian has been on a hunger strike for already two weeks. In Your opinion, what is the inner political situation in Armenia right now?
– The fact that the country is now in a heavy social-economical situation is clear to everybody. At least 90 per cent of the population is waiting for abrupt positive changes, since they consider that it is not possible to go on living like this. They are waiting for liberalization of economy, they want freedom from the businessmen who have made the parliament their office, they want the existence of competitive field, they want a legislation that will provide conditions for development of small business and establish fair taxes, and higher taxes for those who live in a luxury. They want to be protected in social sense, they want justice. There are two bodies that may meet their demands: the government and the opposition. The government is unable to do that, since occupying the government three years ago; Serzh Sargsyan at least had to minimize the problems with the population if he had dared to go against law, morality and God. And no matter how much we do not love the governors; there is no governor who wants to have problems with population.
Let alone the fact that some even dream about being loved. That means that he is unable to make objective positive changes, for, on one hand, he is the one who comes from this illegal system, on the other hand if he doesn’t rely upon the powers who devastate this country, then this government will not last long. It appears that the only power the people can rely on is the opposition. Unfortunately the March revolution did not take place, which was meant to be a silk one. It was crushed and evidently was not carried out up to the end. But the acute crisis and such a completely new phenomenon as “the revolt of Arab world”, has led to the creation of revolutionary situation in Armenia, irrespective of the will of existing powers.
– It seems that the movement headed by Levon Ter Petrosyan and the statements of the government to please the people activated at the same time. Do You see any generality here?
– Of course I see. If You think over it properly, you will notice that all the dictators of the region have begun making statements. Yesterday the President of Syria, who has inherited the office, announced that the country is ready for radical changes, that the emergency situation which has been lasting in the country for 50 years already must be abolished, that certain freedoms must be given. It is more than evident that it is not due to the fact that he became a kind person all of a sudden. He simply has to take that step. The situation is the same in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All the dictators are scared and take obligatory steps. The statements made by Sargsyan belong to the same rank. He wants to show that he is inclined to do some positive changes. It is clear that this is delusion. As I told you already, if he was able to do that, he would have done it three years ago.
– Maybe now he is really willing to make changes especially when the situation is really strained.
– Feeling such a danger he would really like to make changes now, but even in this case he can’t, since his government is based on lies, murders, and on the officials who cannot afford such changes.
– But during the latest few months lots of personnel changes in the government, as well as disclosure of crimes and abuses took place.
– All this is not serious. The situation in the country is much the same.
– There is a point of view that “Heritage” party and Raffi Hovhannisian are not fair in their actions of complaint; there is a doubt that this is another political game.
– I don’t think so. I think that Raffi Hovhannisian and his party members honestly strive for the same changes as 90 percent of the population. They strive for quick and positive changes to save the country from destruction.
– The same opinion is about Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the movement headed by the latter.
– I don’t agree with that point of view either, since Levon Ter Petrosyan may be willing to create such a situation in the country that the government will be obliged to resign and snap election will take place. I can’t say to which extent he is realistic, since I don’t imagine how such developments can lead to the actions of complaint of 200-300 thousands of people. At the same time I don’t think there are guarantees that all these changes will be carried out without blood, that’s why other means must be looked for as well.
– There is an opinion, that people are disappointed after the latest rallies, since they had expectations of more realistic actions.
– Nevertheless, I think people force the opposition to take certain steps. Except for the active participation of people in the rally, we would witness much weaker actions. Such expectations do exist and people express them by their active participation and force the opposition leader to take active steps. During the latest rally such step was taken: The Liberty Square was liberated. Now we see, that it was a “one day” action, the government forbad organizing rally there once again. If a step forward isn’t taken during the rally on April 8, the simple reoccupation of the square will be disappointing. If the upcoming rally is as powerful as the latest one the leaders will have to take a step forward. People are able to influence the opposition and we could see from the statements made during the latest rally that the opposition and its leaders do feel that and respond correspondingly.
– If Raffi Hovhannisian and “Heritage” faction, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and ANC want the same thing, why doesn’t their cooperation succeed in that case?
– That is the most unpleasant fact which goes on sharpening. Instead of not emphasizing it and letting the sides calm down a little and find something common for cooperation, you try to pierce into those relations. Definitely it was a mistake to give ground for such conversations. The situation would be far more brilliant if Levon Ter-Petrosyan welcomed Raffi Hovhannisian’s move, probably he could encourage him to support ANC. Thus they would start a more realistic and mighty struggle together, it would be immediately followed by the people’s impetuous rousing and I think that it would only assist the overall struggle. And there wouldn’t be this sad retreat because now I think that ANC leaders should make efforts in order to make some part of the people forget that disappointment.
– After all is cooperation possible between these two forces?
– If the sides realize that unification is a necessity then it is possible. I think that in politics much worse phenomena and particular episodes were avoided for a common purpose. Whereas in this case that purpose is sacred, it’s the matter of salvation of our country.
– Last week ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan compared Robert Kocharyan with Libya leader Kaddafi, and characterized Serzh Sargsyan as a pragmatic figure who wouldn’t repeat Robert Kocharyan’s behavior and wouldn’t shoot at people. Do you share this opinion?
– I’m not inclined to separate Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan because they share the responsibility of those murders. It’s true, the responsibility of Kocharyan is much bigger because he was the actual president then, but it was done with the consent of the other because he would succeed that ill-fated chair. Is he more pragmatic? I don’t think so because we should make such pragmatism manifested by our activity. It’s obvious that they’ll be inclined to such solutions, but if they want to shoot at their own people again, they should feel such a threat so as not to do it. Just the fear of retribution should restrain them.
– And do you think there is a possibility for snap elections as only a year is left till the serial elections?
– It depends on our people, the level of their decisiveness, readiness to protect their interests and activeness, whether they will make both the authorities and the opposition undergo those processes.