Head of “New Times” political party Aram Sargsyan told our correspondent that he was “an old revolutionist”. To our question concerning what he meant by saying “old revolutionist” he said: “We have been always the first to take actions. If you remember we were the first in April too”. He wondered whether by saying that he is “an old revolutionist” he meant his cooperation experience. Regarding this he answered: “No. I don’t mean that at all. Besides that I don’t think they are revolutionist.”
– About ten days prior to the referendum opposition powers made a decision to boycott the referendum. Don’t you think you are already late for this?
– No, we are not late. I said the same during our meeting in the format of 18. It would be better for us to petition people to take part in the referendum and vote “no” for the Constitutional Draft. But we are faced with a serious problem here: the most difficult thing is to control the process. We waited till the end until it was already clear to us that we would not be able to organize referendum monitoring. If we don’t make
“exit poll”, if we don’t ask international observers to observe the referendum process, they will make violations and reach their goal like they did during the last presidential and parliamentary elections. In this case they can easily change the results of the referendum. In such a case when people go to polling stations with their passports, register, vote and provide the adequate number of voters’ participation, the authorities get a chance to make violations and change the results. We will make boycott throughout the country. It is a good solution for us to boycott, because it is clear that the authorities put pressure on people to make them take part in their campaign for “yes”. And in this case only children and some animals attend their public meeting, but no one else. It is even very difficult for them to make people take part in their campaign. In this connection the authorities will have to use many resources to make people vote “yes” for the Constitution, especially in village communities. And I am sure the boycott will be successful cities. Anyway if the authorities make people take part in the referendum and vote, we petition them to vote “no” for it.
– How are you going to control the boycott? The authorities may use their leverages and artificially increase the number of participants.
– We are going to control the process with the help of observers. Some observers will stay outside of polling stations and will register the number of voters that enter the polling stations. And periodically once an hour they will report these numbers. This is an easier way to apply.
– There are two groups of oppositionists that have different opinions. Artashes Geghamyan says that it is better for you to control the referendum process in polling stations and then they will tell people what to do the next day of the referendum. And “the format of 18” petitions people to come to Yerevan that day and start a boycott. Don’t you think this kind of contradiction and approach may lead to failure?
– Do you remember what I said during our public meeting in Avan? I said that some actions would be taken in September and then in October the opposition would be united. Now I say that all opposition parties will come to a conclusion in connection with this. My own opinion is to gather in Yerevan on November 27. I think we should start this process on the referendum day, so to make the authorities sure that there are people who will not agree with their violations the next day of the referendum when publishing the results. That is why the public meeting of November 27 is so important for me. There are some things that we want to do too, but this is a tactical issue and I don’t want to speak about that now. We will inform you about this on November 25. We will announce later what to do, how to do.
– But recently few people attend the public meetings of the opposition. Don’t you think that people are disappointed about these meetings?
– As an old revolutionist, I think one of the reasons is the fact that there are few people in Armenia now. The second thing is their apathy. I mean, people don’t see the final results yet. And now people don’t know what they are going to struggle for and they are not sure that the opposition will reach success. But people are not afraid, their number increases. I am sure that we will be able to solve the problem with the revolution that day if the critical number of people is provided. And in case the necessary critical number is not provided, this will not be a misfortune. Remember! This process will continue and it will lead to authority change out of the turn.
– Which is the critical number of people that you noted?
– I think this critical number is 30.000. In this case we will be able to take serious steps. But there may be force-major in all processes.
– So what are you going to do in case of force-major?
– We will get ready for new processes and actions. I will present my view about organizing continued processes. But I am sure that the authorities will be changed out of the turn here.
– You said that the revolution depends on providing the critical number of people and that the leaders of the opposition are able to lead that process. Are you sure that you will be able to evade what happened in 2003-2004? I mean when the opposition asked people to go to their homes.
– Most of the leaders of the format have overcome a lot of problems and are not disappointed yet. Their will is still too strong. Don’t be suspicious about our will and about what we can do. Of course I don’t think anyone from the format regrets, they are all still strong. But please note that if someone stops, this will not prevent us from going forward, we will go on by all means.