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ARMENIAN OPPOSITION IS PREVENTING THE VERY DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES IT ADVOCATES
By Ashot Safaryan
ArmInfo
2010-07-19 15:01:00
Interview of Karen Avagyan, parliamentarian from the Republican Party
of Armenia faction, with ArmInfo news agency
Mr. Avagyan, the Armenian National Congress says that the key
precondition for a dialogue with the Government is release of political
prisoners. What steps should be taken to overcome the obstacles to
establishment of a dialogue?
Anyway, when preconditions are laid for establishment of relations,
one can state with confidence that establishment of these relations
is already doomed to failure. The Republican Party has repeatedly
expressed willingness to start a dialogue with the opposition and
form an atmosphere of tolerance, but it cannot accept the ANC's
precondition policy. If you really want to cooperate, you would not
lay any preconditions. I personally see no obstacles to this dialogue
especially as it meets our national and state interests.
What conclusions can one make about the recent personnel replacements
in the Armenian National Movement Party, which is one of the leading
political forces in the Armenian National Congress?
The recent events have demonstrated that the Congress is not so much
consolidated as the representatives of this political force like
to say. My judgments are based not only on the fact of resignation
of the deputy chairman of ANM Board, and later the chairman as
well, but also on the diversity of approaches and positions of ANC
representatives. The Congress is not a single force now. The management
of the Armenian National Movement does not agree with the policy the
Congress is conducting. They used to claim in due time as if a split
was ripening in the coalition; however, it became obvious over time
that just serious discrepancies were observed there, which led to
the well-known events.
Are there any contact points between the approaches of the RPA and
the ANC in some issues?
Here the matter does not concern coincidence of approaches of a certain
force with our party's position. RPA has its own program and its vision
in both domestic and foreign policy. And if some party wishes to assume
the responsibility for settlement of the existing problems together
with us, we are ready for a dialogue. On the other hand, each party
has its own program and is competent to implement it independently.
The Armenian National Congress, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage are
competing for the title of opposition. How correct is this competition,
and who determines their compliance with this role?
They should demonstrate themselves how much they comply with their
title of oppositional force and how much effective they are in the
political field. Neither the Republican Party nor any other political
force has a right to determine whether they are opposition or not. The
statements like "we are opposition" change nothing if there is no
relevant operation. Moreover, people should also give their assessment
to the specified parties' activity.
And still, what measures will the RPA, as the ruling party, take to
remove the domestic political tension and the consequences of 1 March
2008 tragic events?
I think there is no domestic political tension in Armenia. Those who
sometimes remember the events just pursue their political ambitions.
There are no problems in our foreign policy; there is no external
pressure on our country. During the past year Armenia has been quite
active in foreign policy and has experienced no problems caused by
the March 1 events. Anyway, the authorities have done their best to
eliminate the atmosphere of tension and mutual hatred. I think that
we must put an end to political speculations on this issue as they
prevent us from consolidating our society and developing our country.
As well as from successfully conducting the foreign policy,
particularly, connected with the Karabakh conflict settlement?
In the Karabakh issue Armenia's position is more than clear:
Nagorno-Karabakh will never find itself part of Azerbaijan. The
conflict should be settled via the Karabakh people's will expression.
No matter what statements Aliyev or his henchmen make, the peace
process will go on exclusively the way I have already mentioned. The
Armenian party has precisely formulated its approaches to the problem,
and they will remain unchanged. At present Azeris perfectly realize
that the NKR cannot be part of Azerbaijan. And the statements about the
readiness "to get back the occupied territories" are like consolation,
Baku is currently clutching at a straw. Moreover, both the mediators
and the other leading powers interested in the conflict settlement
already realize that the conflict cannot be settled without the NKR's
direct participation in the talks.
Do you think that a document on Nagorno-Karabakh may be signed in
the short-term outlook?
The process is actively progressing. Pay attention to the intensive
meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. And it is logical
that the frequency of these meetings will gradually lead to a certain
stage, at which the parties' positions will be coordinated.
From: A. Papazian
By Ashot Safaryan
ArmInfo
2010-07-19 15:01:00
Interview of Karen Avagyan, parliamentarian from the Republican Party
of Armenia faction, with ArmInfo news agency
Mr. Avagyan, the Armenian National Congress says that the key
precondition for a dialogue with the Government is release of political
prisoners. What steps should be taken to overcome the obstacles to
establishment of a dialogue?
Anyway, when preconditions are laid for establishment of relations,
one can state with confidence that establishment of these relations
is already doomed to failure. The Republican Party has repeatedly
expressed willingness to start a dialogue with the opposition and
form an atmosphere of tolerance, but it cannot accept the ANC's
precondition policy. If you really want to cooperate, you would not
lay any preconditions. I personally see no obstacles to this dialogue
especially as it meets our national and state interests.
What conclusions can one make about the recent personnel replacements
in the Armenian National Movement Party, which is one of the leading
political forces in the Armenian National Congress?
The recent events have demonstrated that the Congress is not so much
consolidated as the representatives of this political force like
to say. My judgments are based not only on the fact of resignation
of the deputy chairman of ANM Board, and later the chairman as
well, but also on the diversity of approaches and positions of ANC
representatives. The Congress is not a single force now. The management
of the Armenian National Movement does not agree with the policy the
Congress is conducting. They used to claim in due time as if a split
was ripening in the coalition; however, it became obvious over time
that just serious discrepancies were observed there, which led to
the well-known events.
Are there any contact points between the approaches of the RPA and
the ANC in some issues?
Here the matter does not concern coincidence of approaches of a certain
force with our party's position. RPA has its own program and its vision
in both domestic and foreign policy. And if some party wishes to assume
the responsibility for settlement of the existing problems together
with us, we are ready for a dialogue. On the other hand, each party
has its own program and is competent to implement it independently.
The Armenian National Congress, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage are
competing for the title of opposition. How correct is this competition,
and who determines their compliance with this role?
They should demonstrate themselves how much they comply with their
title of oppositional force and how much effective they are in the
political field. Neither the Republican Party nor any other political
force has a right to determine whether they are opposition or not. The
statements like "we are opposition" change nothing if there is no
relevant operation. Moreover, people should also give their assessment
to the specified parties' activity.
And still, what measures will the RPA, as the ruling party, take to
remove the domestic political tension and the consequences of 1 March
2008 tragic events?
I think there is no domestic political tension in Armenia. Those who
sometimes remember the events just pursue their political ambitions.
There are no problems in our foreign policy; there is no external
pressure on our country. During the past year Armenia has been quite
active in foreign policy and has experienced no problems caused by
the March 1 events. Anyway, the authorities have done their best to
eliminate the atmosphere of tension and mutual hatred. I think that
we must put an end to political speculations on this issue as they
prevent us from consolidating our society and developing our country.
As well as from successfully conducting the foreign policy,
particularly, connected with the Karabakh conflict settlement?
In the Karabakh issue Armenia's position is more than clear:
Nagorno-Karabakh will never find itself part of Azerbaijan. The
conflict should be settled via the Karabakh people's will expression.
No matter what statements Aliyev or his henchmen make, the peace
process will go on exclusively the way I have already mentioned. The
Armenian party has precisely formulated its approaches to the problem,
and they will remain unchanged. At present Azeris perfectly realize
that the NKR cannot be part of Azerbaijan. And the statements about the
readiness "to get back the occupied territories" are like consolation,
Baku is currently clutching at a straw. Moreover, both the mediators
and the other leading powers interested in the conflict settlement
already realize that the conflict cannot be settled without the NKR's
direct participation in the talks.
Do you think that a document on Nagorno-Karabakh may be signed in
the short-term outlook?
The process is actively progressing. Pay attention to the intensive
meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. And it is logical
that the frequency of these meetings will gradually lead to a certain
stage, at which the parties' positions will be coordinated.
From: A. Papazian