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NEGOTIATIONS, ULTIMATUMS, AND TALK OF ELECTIONS UNACCEPTABLE: SARGSYAN'S RESPONSE TO HAK DIALOGUE
epress.am
06.17.2011 18:17
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a statement today on the
issues raised by the Armenian National Congress with respect to
dialogue between the opposition bloc and the ruling coalition.
Sargsyan says the ruling coalition is and always has been ready for
dialogue - but not if it involves negotiations, ultimatums and talk
of pre-term elections. Here is his statement in full as sent by the
RA president's press office:
"For the forces, which are concerned with the problems of our people
and development of our state, the only logical and acceptable way
to move forward and find solutions to the existing difficulties is
dialogue and discussions. All other methods can be dangerous, full of
inevitable losses. We have been speaking about it constantly and will
not recoil from repeating it again and again. After the presidential
elections in 2008, my first public statement was a call for cooperation
directed to all political forces and non-governmental groups. And
ever since, the working style of the authorities remains unchanged.
"No matter how difficult, at times even tough, the discussions have
been, the [ruling] political coalition has been able to maintain
constructive cooperation with the parliamentary opposition - Armenian
Revolutionary Federation and Heritage Party - for the benefit of
Armenia's advancement. We have not only been absolutely open for
cooperation with all political forces, but have created corresponding
mechanisms. The work format with the extra-parliamentary parties
allowed to juxtapose approaches existing in the political arena and
related to the issues which are vital for our state and our nation.
The establishment of the Public Council also was aimed at the
attraction of as many social groups as possible in the decision-making
processes, and we always consider proposals coming from that structure.
"Dialogue with the Armenian National Congress [HAK] has also been
initiated by us. We have started the process and it was done not under
any pressure, as some forces embarrassed by that dialogue are trying
to present, but as a result of our deeply conscientious conviction. I
assess positively our work with HAK for the last several months and
hope that there is mutual understanding that the launched process
should be upheld and advanced through the joint efforts. To destroy
is easy, however political maturity is manifested through the ability
to add to whatever has already been done. I believe, if the parties
are able to abstain from the temptation to corner each other and
the process by one-step, unreasoned moves, it will be possible to
resolutely move forward and bring greater benefits to our people
and our state. From this point of view, the essential principle is
clear: ultimatums are unacceptable, and talking in ultimatums is a
road which leads nowhere, and turning a dialogue into negotiations
is simply unacceptable.
"I would like to restate: we have always been open and ready for any
kind of discussion. If there are political forces, which have concrete
and reasonable proposals, we are ready to provide concrete solutions;
If among the numerous problems facing our people and our country HAK is
interested exclusively in the elections, the speaker of the National
Assembly is ready to personally receive the representatives of that
political body and hear them out. If, however, there are suggestions
aimed at the rise of our economy and solution of the social problems
existing in the country, then the prime minster personally will
receive them and discuss these issues. If there are issues which
command intervention by the president, the head of the presidential
staff will receive them and discuss all issues.
"However, if instead of negotiations, which are unacceptable, the
Armenian National Congress is genuinely ready to continue the dialogue
on the outline of the country's development, essential issues of the
country's foreign and internal policies and desires to do so through
the specially designated individuals, the representatives of the
[ruling] coalition parties can sit down at the negotiation table
with them. The [ruling] political coalition is ready to conduct such
discussions with all political forces which possess concrete proposals.
"We have embarked on a very important road, and it is important not
only for today. I am confident that if somberness of mind does not
leave us, we will be able to install a new political culture which
is extremely important for independent Armenia."
epress.am
06.17.2011 18:17
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a statement today on the
issues raised by the Armenian National Congress with respect to
dialogue between the opposition bloc and the ruling coalition.
Sargsyan says the ruling coalition is and always has been ready for
dialogue - but not if it involves negotiations, ultimatums and talk
of pre-term elections. Here is his statement in full as sent by the
RA president's press office:
"For the forces, which are concerned with the problems of our people
and development of our state, the only logical and acceptable way
to move forward and find solutions to the existing difficulties is
dialogue and discussions. All other methods can be dangerous, full of
inevitable losses. We have been speaking about it constantly and will
not recoil from repeating it again and again. After the presidential
elections in 2008, my first public statement was a call for cooperation
directed to all political forces and non-governmental groups. And
ever since, the working style of the authorities remains unchanged.
"No matter how difficult, at times even tough, the discussions have
been, the [ruling] political coalition has been able to maintain
constructive cooperation with the parliamentary opposition - Armenian
Revolutionary Federation and Heritage Party - for the benefit of
Armenia's advancement. We have not only been absolutely open for
cooperation with all political forces, but have created corresponding
mechanisms. The work format with the extra-parliamentary parties
allowed to juxtapose approaches existing in the political arena and
related to the issues which are vital for our state and our nation.
The establishment of the Public Council also was aimed at the
attraction of as many social groups as possible in the decision-making
processes, and we always consider proposals coming from that structure.
"Dialogue with the Armenian National Congress [HAK] has also been
initiated by us. We have started the process and it was done not under
any pressure, as some forces embarrassed by that dialogue are trying
to present, but as a result of our deeply conscientious conviction. I
assess positively our work with HAK for the last several months and
hope that there is mutual understanding that the launched process
should be upheld and advanced through the joint efforts. To destroy
is easy, however political maturity is manifested through the ability
to add to whatever has already been done. I believe, if the parties
are able to abstain from the temptation to corner each other and
the process by one-step, unreasoned moves, it will be possible to
resolutely move forward and bring greater benefits to our people
and our state. From this point of view, the essential principle is
clear: ultimatums are unacceptable, and talking in ultimatums is a
road which leads nowhere, and turning a dialogue into negotiations
is simply unacceptable.
"I would like to restate: we have always been open and ready for any
kind of discussion. If there are political forces, which have concrete
and reasonable proposals, we are ready to provide concrete solutions;
If among the numerous problems facing our people and our country HAK is
interested exclusively in the elections, the speaker of the National
Assembly is ready to personally receive the representatives of that
political body and hear them out. If, however, there are suggestions
aimed at the rise of our economy and solution of the social problems
existing in the country, then the prime minster personally will
receive them and discuss these issues. If there are issues which
command intervention by the president, the head of the presidential
staff will receive them and discuss all issues.
"However, if instead of negotiations, which are unacceptable, the
Armenian National Congress is genuinely ready to continue the dialogue
on the outline of the country's development, essential issues of the
country's foreign and internal policies and desires to do so through
the specially designated individuals, the representatives of the
[ruling] coalition parties can sit down at the negotiation table
with them. The [ruling] political coalition is ready to conduct such
discussions with all political forces which possess concrete proposals.
"We have embarked on a very important road, and it is important not
only for today. I am confident that if somberness of mind does not
leave us, we will be able to install a new political culture which
is extremely important for independent Armenia."