– Was the launched collaboration between the government and the ANC necessary to weaken the tension and polarization that exists within the society?
– Unfortunately the leadership of our country considers the public opinion and desires in the last place. The same can be referred to the above-mentioned developments, which are not considered dialog. In order to describe that we shouldn’t forget what had happened during the past three years. Numerous questions were originated, which should receive answers. Without these answers it would be hypocritical to claim that there is collaboration. Both sides have given accusations, which often turned into criminal indictments and cursing. And now all of the sudden a “dialog” is created. Moreover, the government was formed not yesterday but three years ago. Indeed, we have a question whether the previous qualifications were correct or not. If those were correct can we believe that there are dialog and civilized relations?
– The opposition, nonetheless, doesn’t refuse his qualifications and accusations addressed to the government. They also claim change of government after the first three demands are met.
– The impression is different though. It seems that there is merely a wish to declare that all three demands were met. In fact there is nothing like that because the questions about March 1 will receive actual answers only when the new investigation is over and when the results are publicized. If those demands were supposed to be met only by promises then we could go back to summer and fall of 2008. We will see that years back they were also planning to establish an ad hoc and a working group, etc. I am more than sure that the answers to March 1 are not there yet. The actual demand of the society regarding the March 1 events is not fully satisfied.
– What answers would you like to hear about the March 1?
– I think these questions are well-known.
– For example, one of the main questions of the opposition is to know who gave the order to shoot and who shot.
– So have they received any answers yet?
– Officially they haven’t but there are statements that the order was given by Robert Kocharyan.
– There are two ways for answers to questions – based on assumptions or facts. We all know the opinion of the ANC and the government to each other before and now. So the only way to receive an objective response is the facts. By the way, the ANC also agrees with that. Otherwise it wouldn’t demand the reinvestigation of the case.
– Among the issues raised by the opposition is the revision of the order on curfew, which they find illegal. During his last interview Robert Kocharyan said that he had agreed it with the NA Speaker and the Prime Minister. Do you claim that it was a legal action and necessary to enforce at that time?
– Unlike many others I don’t change my approaches every other day or twice a year because I try to base those on facts and evidence. Of course, curfew was enforced based on the constitution. That step was necessary and important because there were already victims. As I have numerously mentioned before I am sure if the curfew wasn’t enforced we would have had more victims. And that was the most important matter because human life is the most essential. The ones, who were cursing each other with the worst words now are trying to be in each other’s liking. But no one can return the lives of the dead people. It is evident that the biggest loss we had was the life of the 10 victims. And I am sure that by enforcing curfew we were able to prevent another tragedy by saving the lives of people. By the way when this matter was being discussed at the National Assembly nobody objected, which means that done of them opposed to this decision.
– Several imprisoned oppositionists of March 1 case declared that they were working for S. Sargsyan. Don’t you think that the government has somehow provoked certain actions, such as burning cars, robbery? Don’t you think that all that was done to justify the curfew?
– Don’t you think that you should ask this question to the ones, who you are referring to?
– When depriving the 4 NA MPs from immunity you and many of your colleagues said that you believed that it would enable to more easily prove their innocence.
– Perhaps certain things are forgotten or marred over time. Let me remind you. First it was the duty of the prosecutor-general to explain why it was necessary to deprive these MPs from immunity. According to him, only that way it would be possible to reveal the truth. And the revelation of the truth was the demand of the whole society. Moreover, one of those MPs said that if for the revelation of truth this step was necessary he didn’t mind giving up his immunity. But there was another problem with depriving the MPs from immunity. Indeed, in such cases the NA doesn’t define terms or deadlines but when our colleagues stayed under custody for quite a long time it was necessary that the NA got back to that matter once again in six months. By the way, I’ve said this back then too.
– Nonetheless, over time the majority of the oppositionists, including the imprisoned MPs were somehow released from jail based on various justifications, such as amnesty. And Serzh Sargsyan announced that he had assigned the justice minister to submit recommendations. So the government sort of agrees that these people were sentenced unfairly.
– Please ask the questions, which relate to these people, to them personally.
– Nonetheless, as a result of what have the ANC and the government started to collaborate?
– This is merely a group interest. Both of the sides are fully sufficed by the current situation – balance of power before elections. This is the reality but I’m sure that it will not be possible to maintain this for too long because ultimately the development of processes will cause violation of balance on either sides.
– Can we include in that the fulfillment of the demands of the opposition?
– The formal fulfillment of the demands doesn’t give actual answers. We have already spoken about one of those. Let us speak about the rallies that are now taking place at the Liberty Square. The government wouldn’t allow rallies at the square for three years. And it was banned illegally because the law doesn’t allow anyone ban license for rallies without clear explanation or reasoning. But then suddenly despite their ban they allowed the rally participants go to the Liberty Square. Then they started to negotiate with the police. By the way, the police not only didn’t have the right to surround the square but also didn’t have the right to negotiate with the protesters. It is obvious that arbitrary approach still continues. If part of it suffices the demands of the opposition it doesn’t mean that the problems are solved. I didn’t even mention based on what law they brought up these limitations. And if they don’t accept that all that was done illegally then they can break the law at any moment again. Therefore, they can only speak formally about the fulfillment of demands. So it’s like lying to yourself that the ANC demands are fully or partly met.
– What is your opinion about the possibility of by-elections?
– If you mean parliamentary elections then I should say that there is even no time left for those. Some people bring up some formal and absurd justifications but those should also have meaning and content. Finally, if the government uses this formal opportunity by making the political majority of the parliament to boycott the work and dissolves the parliament in 4-5 months it should explain what caused the dissolution. And the government doesn’t have such an explanation because it has a 90% majority in the parliament. The ones, who demand by-elections, either lie to themselves or the society. Even if under these conditions they succeed holding fair elections it still doesn’t mean that afterward the life is going to be fair and honest in Armenia. The crisis is connected with the system – starting from the multi-party system ending with the judicial system. It is impossible to build a new Armenia with a leadership, which still ahs the influence of the soviet system. In this regard both opposition and government deserve each other.