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NEW OPPOSITIONAL BODY TO BE FORMED
[06:18 pm] 23 November, 2006
`The announcements of the authorities that the forthcoming
parliamentary elections will be transparent and fair are but an
illusion. The 2007 elections have already been held-de facto', claims
Garnik Margaryan, Colone and leader of `Motherland and Honour' Party.
Mr. Margaryan, can you give reasons for your statement?
Everything is visible. The elections are already fabricated under the
guise of charity. I cannot say definitely whether it is a party or a
charity organization but I am convinced in one thing; its head thinks
himself a giant or a monster.
He has been distributing potatoes, fertilizer to the RA residents to
provide his electorate in the elections. I wonder how a party can have
30 000 members if it doesn't have an ideology. There is another
benefactor-Tigran Karapetyan who gathers his voters via songs and
dances. The authorities rely on the above-mentioned electorates and
want to show the international community that the elections are fair
and transparent in Armenia.
The previous elections have shown that people vote for the candidate
they want, though they take the bribes offered on the eve of
elections. Don't you think that candidates had better take care of the
voters' confidence than bother about the electorate formed via bribe
taking?
Yes, you are right. The 2003 elections proved that the authorities,
that had only 7 - 8 percent of votes, fabricated the elections. As a
result they had 51 - 52 percent votes. The previous elections have
also shown that the opposition cannot combat against the criminal
authorities with joint efforts. A committee must be formed which will
unite all the forces which are convinced that there is only one
outcome of the situation; to hold out-of-order elections to get rid of
the authorities.
And how do you imagine the formation of the new committee?
We already have `Civil Disobedience', `Alternative', `Anti-criminal
Movement' and various suchlike oppositional movements which are
concerned about the future of the country. I don't agree with the
wide-spread opinion that the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) has
already exhausted. They merely passed on to a milder policy. They
still have their stable electorate that follows Stepan Demirchyan with
nostalgia and trust him. Today, all the oppositional representatives
agree that the acting authorities are criminals and we must get rid of
them. That very ideology can become a stimulus for the oppositional
forces and unite them. I assume that the Opposition will be able to
set up a body available for all.
Our country has past, present and future. We cannot let the current
authorities deprive us of the future. We haven't got oil supplies but
we have intelligentsia and scientists - the mental set,
instead. Today, the names of Armenian scientists appear in a number of
international magazines. Why should an Armenian scientist use his
abilities for the prosperity and future well-being of other countries?
A few years ago we said that the emigration increased in Armenia and
the population greatly decreased. We face a bitter reality because of
the authorities. The USA urges that the Armenian troops must be taken
out of the occupied territories and the troops of the NATO must be
located there to settle the U.S. matters with Iraq. And Russia says
that the NATO troops have nothing to do in the above-mentioned areas.
What will Armenia do in this situation?
We must be guided only by the interests of Armenia according to which
the NATO troops mustn't enter the region. These authorities have
weakened the country so much that the superpowers treat us like a
ball. They get whatever they want from us. The same Russia exerted so
much pressure on us that deprived us of objects of military importance
under the program `Property in Return of Debt'. Provided Russia
strengthens its position in Armenia, it will not allow us to become a
member of any European structure. The USA also wants to make use of
Armenia for its own interests. If we sit awaiting for the decision of
the superpowers we had better surrender. And all this hustle and
bustle was caused by the current authorities. The country will not
prosper unless the RA Constitution guarantees protection for
Armenians. The emigration will continue, provided the prime minister
of the country announces that families can live on the 11 000 pension.
Should we blame only the acting authorities for the current situation
in the country? Don't the Opposition representatives have their share
of guilt?
Certainly, they are also guilty. We couldn't display enough
determination and prudence to combat against the criminal regime. We
couldn't unite in 2003, 2004 and in 2005.
And why couldn't the Opposition unite?
The reason is that Armenians suffer from megalomania, to be the
first. I can speak of it easily and openly as I don't have such
ambitions. We must finally realise that the president of the country
can be one person and we must allow people decide themselves. This is
bitter and cruel reality.
And do you have guarantees that the Opposition will not repeat the
same mistakes?
I call on the Opposition to be sober. We have no way back. All the
means to stop this regime are justified. Who says that political
disobedience is not a constitutional norm? It is one of the
fundamental rights of people. The regime has drawbacks and the society
doesn't obey it. The point is that we overestimate the acting
regime. But in fact they are rather weak.
Why do you think that the current authorities are weak?
There are numerous examples. Let's take the visit of the Defense
Minister to Iraq. Serge Sargsyan anticipated guarantees from
Condoleeza Rise. Our authorities are in a constant search; they always
seize the opportunity to meet with the superpowers. Today, our
high-rank officials see the indifference of the North that's why they
have turned to the West. The economy of the country is number one
priority of the Armenian authorities. Only the country with
`self-service' can maintain the liberated territories and its victory.
The acting regime came to power with the slogan, `we shall not giving
the territories back'. What is your opinion on the RA policy in view
of the Karabakh conflict?
They deem their policy objectively in their announcements. If the
Defense Minister announces that Aghdam is not an Armenian territory,
or they have liberated the territories on condition to return them
later or to initiate trade in those territories, I have nothing more
to say about him. I only advise Mr. Sargsyan to view the pages of
history and to turn to politicians' help. The whole world is aware
that the second Tigranakert is in Artsahk. Perhaps, only the Defense
Minister is unaware of it. These authorities have `labeled' themselves
with their evaluations to the former regime. The main difference
between them is that unlike the former authorities, the current
authorities cannot accept their defeat with honour.
What `label' do you mean?
The label of betrayers. The RA authorities have no right to forget
Erablour and the innocent victims of Armenia and Artsakh. The most
striking point is that they want to keep their office. But they should
bear responsibility for every robbery, political murder, the
parliamentary carnage of October 27 and the white Genocide of the
Armenians over the past 4 - 5 years initiated by them.
The interviewer was Victoria ABRAHAMYAN
NEW OPPOSITIONAL BODY TO BE FORMED
[06:18 pm] 23 November, 2006
`The announcements of the authorities that the forthcoming
parliamentary elections will be transparent and fair are but an
illusion. The 2007 elections have already been held-de facto', claims
Garnik Margaryan, Colone and leader of `Motherland and Honour' Party.
Mr. Margaryan, can you give reasons for your statement?
Everything is visible. The elections are already fabricated under the
guise of charity. I cannot say definitely whether it is a party or a
charity organization but I am convinced in one thing; its head thinks
himself a giant or a monster.
He has been distributing potatoes, fertilizer to the RA residents to
provide his electorate in the elections. I wonder how a party can have
30 000 members if it doesn't have an ideology. There is another
benefactor-Tigran Karapetyan who gathers his voters via songs and
dances. The authorities rely on the above-mentioned electorates and
want to show the international community that the elections are fair
and transparent in Armenia.
The previous elections have shown that people vote for the candidate
they want, though they take the bribes offered on the eve of
elections. Don't you think that candidates had better take care of the
voters' confidence than bother about the electorate formed via bribe
taking?
Yes, you are right. The 2003 elections proved that the authorities,
that had only 7 - 8 percent of votes, fabricated the elections. As a
result they had 51 - 52 percent votes. The previous elections have
also shown that the opposition cannot combat against the criminal
authorities with joint efforts. A committee must be formed which will
unite all the forces which are convinced that there is only one
outcome of the situation; to hold out-of-order elections to get rid of
the authorities.
And how do you imagine the formation of the new committee?
We already have `Civil Disobedience', `Alternative', `Anti-criminal
Movement' and various suchlike oppositional movements which are
concerned about the future of the country. I don't agree with the
wide-spread opinion that the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) has
already exhausted. They merely passed on to a milder policy. They
still have their stable electorate that follows Stepan Demirchyan with
nostalgia and trust him. Today, all the oppositional representatives
agree that the acting authorities are criminals and we must get rid of
them. That very ideology can become a stimulus for the oppositional
forces and unite them. I assume that the Opposition will be able to
set up a body available for all.
Our country has past, present and future. We cannot let the current
authorities deprive us of the future. We haven't got oil supplies but
we have intelligentsia and scientists - the mental set,
instead. Today, the names of Armenian scientists appear in a number of
international magazines. Why should an Armenian scientist use his
abilities for the prosperity and future well-being of other countries?
A few years ago we said that the emigration increased in Armenia and
the population greatly decreased. We face a bitter reality because of
the authorities. The USA urges that the Armenian troops must be taken
out of the occupied territories and the troops of the NATO must be
located there to settle the U.S. matters with Iraq. And Russia says
that the NATO troops have nothing to do in the above-mentioned areas.
What will Armenia do in this situation?
We must be guided only by the interests of Armenia according to which
the NATO troops mustn't enter the region. These authorities have
weakened the country so much that the superpowers treat us like a
ball. They get whatever they want from us. The same Russia exerted so
much pressure on us that deprived us of objects of military importance
under the program `Property in Return of Debt'. Provided Russia
strengthens its position in Armenia, it will not allow us to become a
member of any European structure. The USA also wants to make use of
Armenia for its own interests. If we sit awaiting for the decision of
the superpowers we had better surrender. And all this hustle and
bustle was caused by the current authorities. The country will not
prosper unless the RA Constitution guarantees protection for
Armenians. The emigration will continue, provided the prime minister
of the country announces that families can live on the 11 000 pension.
Should we blame only the acting authorities for the current situation
in the country? Don't the Opposition representatives have their share
of guilt?
Certainly, they are also guilty. We couldn't display enough
determination and prudence to combat against the criminal regime. We
couldn't unite in 2003, 2004 and in 2005.
And why couldn't the Opposition unite?
The reason is that Armenians suffer from megalomania, to be the
first. I can speak of it easily and openly as I don't have such
ambitions. We must finally realise that the president of the country
can be one person and we must allow people decide themselves. This is
bitter and cruel reality.
And do you have guarantees that the Opposition will not repeat the
same mistakes?
I call on the Opposition to be sober. We have no way back. All the
means to stop this regime are justified. Who says that political
disobedience is not a constitutional norm? It is one of the
fundamental rights of people. The regime has drawbacks and the society
doesn't obey it. The point is that we overestimate the acting
regime. But in fact they are rather weak.
Why do you think that the current authorities are weak?
There are numerous examples. Let's take the visit of the Defense
Minister to Iraq. Serge Sargsyan anticipated guarantees from
Condoleeza Rise. Our authorities are in a constant search; they always
seize the opportunity to meet with the superpowers. Today, our
high-rank officials see the indifference of the North that's why they
have turned to the West. The economy of the country is number one
priority of the Armenian authorities. Only the country with
`self-service' can maintain the liberated territories and its victory.
The acting regime came to power with the slogan, `we shall not giving
the territories back'. What is your opinion on the RA policy in view
of the Karabakh conflict?
They deem their policy objectively in their announcements. If the
Defense Minister announces that Aghdam is not an Armenian territory,
or they have liberated the territories on condition to return them
later or to initiate trade in those territories, I have nothing more
to say about him. I only advise Mr. Sargsyan to view the pages of
history and to turn to politicians' help. The whole world is aware
that the second Tigranakert is in Artsahk. Perhaps, only the Defense
Minister is unaware of it. These authorities have `labeled' themselves
with their evaluations to the former regime. The main difference
between them is that unlike the former authorities, the current
authorities cannot accept their defeat with honour.
What `label' do you mean?
The label of betrayers. The RA authorities have no right to forget
Erablour and the innocent victims of Armenia and Artsakh. The most
striking point is that they want to keep their office. But they should
bear responsibility for every robbery, political murder, the
parliamentary carnage of October 27 and the white Genocide of the
Armenians over the past 4 - 5 years initiated by them.
The interviewer was Victoria ABRAHAMYAN