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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT 'CLEARING CORRIDORS OF POWER'
news.az
Nov 3 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Musabayov,
an independent member of the Milli Majlis.
Several high ranking Armenian officials have resigned or been dismissed
in the past few days. What has caused the resignations?
President Serzh Sargsyan is seeking to consolidate his power in
anticipation of the elections in Armenia, since many of former
President Robert Kocharyan's pals were in the country's power
structures. There has been much talk recently that Kocharyan may try
to return to the presidency. I think that Sargsyan is clearing the
corridors of power in order to retain control in Armenia.
What changes are likely in Armenia's foreign policy if Kocharyan
returns to the presidency?
Kocharyan and Sargsyan differ only in terms of policy style rather
than content. I don't see a significant difference between these two.
What changes are likely in Armenia's stance on a Karabakh settlement
if Sargsyan is re-elected president?
Armenia is seeking to legalize the occupation of Azerbaijani lands,
thereby preserving the status quo on the Karabakh conflict. But in
fact, this status quo is leading to the slow extinction of Armenia.
This fact has become more obvious recently. I think that ex-President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan's words that "Armenia is nearing its end" are not
a throwaway remark. This reality is inevitable for anyone elected
Armenian president. These realities are objective and inevitable,
though there are people who are ready to perceive these realities as
they are - I mean Levon Ter-Petrosyan. There are those who perceive
this reality to a lesser degree, including Serzh Sargsyan and Robert
Kocharyan. Depending on the scenario in Armenia, the developments will
depend not only on whether Sargsyan wins the presidential elections
or not. The election of Ter-Petrosyan to parliament and the number
of his supporters in the legislative body of Armenia are important.
What are Ter-Petrosyan's chances of winning the presidential and
parliamentary elections in Armenia?
Ter-Petrosyan has set the objective of getting the highest number
of mandates in the new parliament. The problem is that Armenia is
accumulating debts and the economic situation in this country has
remained unchanged for years. In addition, foreign debts must be
repaid sooner or later. This is the reality for those who are running
for power in Armenia.
How true are the forecasts of observers, including Armenian political
scientists, that Armenian foreign policy will shift direction if
Levon Ter-Petrosyan returns to power?
I do not think that Armenia's direction during Levon Ter-Petrosyan's
presidency will change. When Ter-Petrosyan was the Armenian president,
he did not turn his back on Russia. Anyone who is elected Armenian
president will be interested in close, allied relations with Russia.
However, Ter-Petrosyan bases Armenia's future on integration with
Europe. I think that Ter-Petrosyan will be inclined to use the model
applied in Georgia, which cut the corruption rate and chose European
integration. But anyway I do not think that Ter-Petrosyan will dare
to break the traditional Russian-Armenian alliance.
From: Baghdasarian
news.az
Nov 3 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Musabayov,
an independent member of the Milli Majlis.
Several high ranking Armenian officials have resigned or been dismissed
in the past few days. What has caused the resignations?
President Serzh Sargsyan is seeking to consolidate his power in
anticipation of the elections in Armenia, since many of former
President Robert Kocharyan's pals were in the country's power
structures. There has been much talk recently that Kocharyan may try
to return to the presidency. I think that Sargsyan is clearing the
corridors of power in order to retain control in Armenia.
What changes are likely in Armenia's foreign policy if Kocharyan
returns to the presidency?
Kocharyan and Sargsyan differ only in terms of policy style rather
than content. I don't see a significant difference between these two.
What changes are likely in Armenia's stance on a Karabakh settlement
if Sargsyan is re-elected president?
Armenia is seeking to legalize the occupation of Azerbaijani lands,
thereby preserving the status quo on the Karabakh conflict. But in
fact, this status quo is leading to the slow extinction of Armenia.
This fact has become more obvious recently. I think that ex-President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan's words that "Armenia is nearing its end" are not
a throwaway remark. This reality is inevitable for anyone elected
Armenian president. These realities are objective and inevitable,
though there are people who are ready to perceive these realities as
they are - I mean Levon Ter-Petrosyan. There are those who perceive
this reality to a lesser degree, including Serzh Sargsyan and Robert
Kocharyan. Depending on the scenario in Armenia, the developments will
depend not only on whether Sargsyan wins the presidential elections
or not. The election of Ter-Petrosyan to parliament and the number
of his supporters in the legislative body of Armenia are important.
What are Ter-Petrosyan's chances of winning the presidential and
parliamentary elections in Armenia?
Ter-Petrosyan has set the objective of getting the highest number
of mandates in the new parliament. The problem is that Armenia is
accumulating debts and the economic situation in this country has
remained unchanged for years. In addition, foreign debts must be
repaid sooner or later. This is the reality for those who are running
for power in Armenia.
How true are the forecasts of observers, including Armenian political
scientists, that Armenian foreign policy will shift direction if
Levon Ter-Petrosyan returns to power?
I do not think that Armenia's direction during Levon Ter-Petrosyan's
presidency will change. When Ter-Petrosyan was the Armenian president,
he did not turn his back on Russia. Anyone who is elected Armenian
president will be interested in close, allied relations with Russia.
However, Ter-Petrosyan bases Armenia's future on integration with
Europe. I think that Ter-Petrosyan will be inclined to use the model
applied in Georgia, which cut the corruption rate and chose European
integration. But anyway I do not think that Ter-Petrosyan will dare
to break the traditional Russian-Armenian alliance.
From: Baghdasarian