“I follow those people who say that the existing Constitution needs to be amended. But I can’t agree with the developments that take place now. They must not make so much effort in such difficult conditions only in order to adopt the Constitution. This is the end already; this is the last branch on which Armenians are; the last branch under the legs of our state governance. If they try to run over this one too, there will be a catastrophe. Those representatives of intelligence, which use their chance to flitter with the authorities don’t understand that this can be very bad for our country”, – said the head of “Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia”, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.
– Those politicians who campaign for “yes” for the Constitutional referendum say that if the referendum is failed Armenia will go back and regress not for 20 years, but for 10 years from the world processes. Aren’t the facts they bring up enough for you to change your mind?
– These facts are not enough and are baseless. These are just words, but there is no justification for what they say. I don’t think the reason for those amendments is their will to develop the country for ten or twelve years. If they worry about this country, they wouldn’t make this country authoritarian. By doing this they made the country go back twenty years. They’d better think about this. Those people who say such kind of things must think that they didn’t have to violate the elections of 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2003. The reason that the country is corrupted and there are oligarchs here is not the existing Constitution. In other words their arguments are baseless and undermined. Moreover, they do their best but they still can’t find any justified argument why to vote for the Constitution.
– What do you think about the opinion that the EU will impose serious penalties on Armenia if this Constitution is not adopted? After all, this Constitution was developed by the EU.
– Of course I don’t. There is nothing like this. Constitutional amendments have been a part of the RA responsibilities since 2000. The EU wanted us to make some changes in our legislation, and of course this had to be done in the form of Constitutional amendments. But the EU hasn’t made any suggestions concerning the immunity of the president and the right to change the borders of the country. Concerning penalties it is worth to remind everyone that the referendum failed in 2003 too. What happened? Was Armenia taken out of the EU? There is no problem like this in connection with the EU. The EU expects democratic developments and processes from Armenia. This time Armenia will be taken out of the EU in case the authorities falsify half a million ballots like they did in 2003.
– Do you agree with the opinion that we shouldn’t vote “for” the Constitution because of the fact that it was brought up by people who always violate the law and they have no moral right to do this and that we mustn’t agree with anything these authorities do?
– The activities of the government during these years don’t say many positive things and people don’t trust them. People don’t believe that they can do something good for them. It is already five years since this government rules. Can you say that the prime-minister has made a couple of suggestions to make reforms? This government doesn’t have this kind of goal. They only think about keeping their power. They have never made us think that they intend to make good reforms. If they had this kind of goal they’d never conduct these kind of awful parliamentary elections, they would not give the economy to the oligarchs…I mean I have never seen a tendency or will to make good developments in the country from them. And now they lay the blame on the existing Constitution and say this was the reason for their misfortune. They say everything will be fine after we have changed the provisions concerning human rights and the judicial system. This is amazing. They’d better not speak about such things, especially those people who flitter with the authorities in order to rule small parts. I understand that the coalition protects the authorities. They have power and they protect it. But those people are awful who run and flitter with them. In a word I still don’t believe that everything depends on the Constitution. This is false and nothing will change in our life even if it is adopted. This will not stop corruption, judges will not make fair decisions and the elections will not be conducted in transparent and fair conditions.
– Weren’t you surprised to learn about the recent announcement of John Evans stating that “US government is against street government”? And he said this after he petitioned people to go out and protect their interests on streets in case there are any violations.
– You’d better ask this from him why he changed his mind in twenty days. But I am not surprised because he is a diplomat. All diplomats are like this, especially the US ambassador, whose word is very important for people. We must agree that only the word of the US is important so much in the world, moreover in such a country like Armenia. What do you think? Was he going to say something else? He represents a serious country.
– I mean the contradiction.
– I am sure he will say other things before the referendum too. This is diplomacy.
– What do you think- will the campaign of opposition for “no” have any positive results? This, of course if this large group of the other party also joined 120 representatives of intelligence recently?
– I have lived an experienced life and have met these kind of representatives of intelligence. I know them; they did the same during the Soviet era. They always try to stay close to the power. It is a pity for me that after the soviet period this custom still exists in our independent Armenia. I used to respect them much. I am sorry, but I am disappointed of them already. The reason is not the fact that they are going to vote “for” the Constitution. The reason is that they periodically flitter with them and serve them; this is not good of them. This is dangerous. They have spoiled both the political field and the intelligence. They shouldn’t do everything just for taking some bread home. This is dangerous for them too, because later these people will flitter with the future authorities and will ask them to punish these authorities. Believe me, these people will punish them themselves. The experience proves this. We work for the people. Nobody can say that they like this one and dislike the other one. I am sure people will not understand what is written in the Constitution and what it means. They are not going to read the whole draft and all articles. By voting “yes” or “no” for the Constitution they will vote “yes” or “no” for these authorities.