REGIME DEVOURS ITSELF
ARMAN GALOYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview24082.html
Published: 17:36:10 - 04/11/2011
Interview with Levon Zurabyan, coordinator of the Armenian National
Congress, on recent government reshuffle and Levon Ter-Petrosyan's
speech in the latest rally
What are your thoughts on the government reshuffle? The impression
is that Serzh Sargsyan is strengthening himself before the national
elections.
He is trying to strengthen himself because his position is seriously
endangered by the deep internal crisis. Although the oligarchy itself
has inaugurated Serzh Sargsyan as a president who would serve their
interests, the regime is gradually losing confidence in his ability
to hold power. Some lords and oligarchs are worried that Serzh
Sargsyan's government has failed, and it was never able to repress
the popular movement in the past four years, and he will finally give
power to the opposition. They worry about their wealth, property, the
continuity of the cleptocracy. As a result, an oligarchic "opposition"
to Serzh Sargsyan has emerged inside the regime, and this opposition
has worked out the plan to replace him by someone who is more capable,
who would hold the stirring wheel of the government more firmly.
Do you mean Robert Kocharyan?
Not necessarily though most authors of the conspiracy think so.
However, the government, the oligarchy are overwhelmed by lack of
confidence. Every now and then we learn different oligarchs say in
private talks not to trust Serzh Sargsyan. As a result, he is now
weaker, and is trying to prevent the conspiracy through reshuffle,
create a platform of loyal persons and move towards the elections with
all the leverages in the hands of people who are loyal to him. This is
what he is trying to do. In addition, it means that the conflict with
the conspirators will be tough, even if there is a temporary ceasefire,
the confrontation will continue until the rival is annihilated. Now
everyone who could be involved in the conspiracy is removed.
In fact, the regime has started devouring itself. I think it only
strengthens people's confidence in the strategy chosen by the Armenian
National Congress, the popular movement. It shows that the strategy
of flexible policy was right.
Why did Serzh Sargsyan's son-in-law Michael Minasyan resign then and
appointed as deputy head of the election staff of the Republican Party?
On the one hand, Serzh Sargsyan needs to render harmless his rivals.
On the other hand, he cannot allow the society think that the
coalition is collapsing. Therefore, those dismissed are appointed to
some positions to make the impression that the team is intact. Hovik
Abrahamyan's appointment as head of election staff is intended to
prove that everything is fine with the team but everyone understands
that there is no need to resign from the post of speaker, especially
that there is a lot of time to go till the next elections. Michael
Minasyan's resignation and appointment as Hovik Abrahamyan's deputy
has two purposes: a) relieve the impression that non-loyal elements
are removed, b) take under control the activities of the election
staff because there is no confidence in Hovik Abrahamyan.
Will the situation in the government influence the tactics of the
opposition?
Certainly it will influence our tactics. Any serious political force
must follow and react to the internal processes. We foresaw this
process a long time ago and now it has started. And it means that
the popular movement stands growing chances to win. We must follow
these developments without weakening our pressure.
The Armenian National Congress also demanded the resignation of those
who resigned on these days. Will your attitude to Serzh Sargsyan
change if your demand is met?
Let us not forget that all these changes take place under the
pressure of the movement. Without our movement, without constant
pressure lasting for four years running, which worries the oligarchy,
the regime would not lose its confidence in Serzh Sargsyan. And no
conspiracy would occur against him. It means that in reality the
movement dictates all the processes. So, all these processes take
place, and the resignations we demanded happen under the pressure of
the movement.
From: A. Papazian
ARMAN GALOYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview24082.html
Published: 17:36:10 - 04/11/2011
Interview with Levon Zurabyan, coordinator of the Armenian National
Congress, on recent government reshuffle and Levon Ter-Petrosyan's
speech in the latest rally
What are your thoughts on the government reshuffle? The impression
is that Serzh Sargsyan is strengthening himself before the national
elections.
He is trying to strengthen himself because his position is seriously
endangered by the deep internal crisis. Although the oligarchy itself
has inaugurated Serzh Sargsyan as a president who would serve their
interests, the regime is gradually losing confidence in his ability
to hold power. Some lords and oligarchs are worried that Serzh
Sargsyan's government has failed, and it was never able to repress
the popular movement in the past four years, and he will finally give
power to the opposition. They worry about their wealth, property, the
continuity of the cleptocracy. As a result, an oligarchic "opposition"
to Serzh Sargsyan has emerged inside the regime, and this opposition
has worked out the plan to replace him by someone who is more capable,
who would hold the stirring wheel of the government more firmly.
Do you mean Robert Kocharyan?
Not necessarily though most authors of the conspiracy think so.
However, the government, the oligarchy are overwhelmed by lack of
confidence. Every now and then we learn different oligarchs say in
private talks not to trust Serzh Sargsyan. As a result, he is now
weaker, and is trying to prevent the conspiracy through reshuffle,
create a platform of loyal persons and move towards the elections with
all the leverages in the hands of people who are loyal to him. This is
what he is trying to do. In addition, it means that the conflict with
the conspirators will be tough, even if there is a temporary ceasefire,
the confrontation will continue until the rival is annihilated. Now
everyone who could be involved in the conspiracy is removed.
In fact, the regime has started devouring itself. I think it only
strengthens people's confidence in the strategy chosen by the Armenian
National Congress, the popular movement. It shows that the strategy
of flexible policy was right.
Why did Serzh Sargsyan's son-in-law Michael Minasyan resign then and
appointed as deputy head of the election staff of the Republican Party?
On the one hand, Serzh Sargsyan needs to render harmless his rivals.
On the other hand, he cannot allow the society think that the
coalition is collapsing. Therefore, those dismissed are appointed to
some positions to make the impression that the team is intact. Hovik
Abrahamyan's appointment as head of election staff is intended to
prove that everything is fine with the team but everyone understands
that there is no need to resign from the post of speaker, especially
that there is a lot of time to go till the next elections. Michael
Minasyan's resignation and appointment as Hovik Abrahamyan's deputy
has two purposes: a) relieve the impression that non-loyal elements
are removed, b) take under control the activities of the election
staff because there is no confidence in Hovik Abrahamyan.
Will the situation in the government influence the tactics of the
opposition?
Certainly it will influence our tactics. Any serious political force
must follow and react to the internal processes. We foresaw this
process a long time ago and now it has started. And it means that
the popular movement stands growing chances to win. We must follow
these developments without weakening our pressure.
The Armenian National Congress also demanded the resignation of those
who resigned on these days. Will your attitude to Serzh Sargsyan
change if your demand is met?
Let us not forget that all these changes take place under the
pressure of the movement. Without our movement, without constant
pressure lasting for four years running, which worries the oligarchy,
the regime would not lose its confidence in Serzh Sargsyan. And no
conspiracy would occur against him. It means that in reality the
movement dictates all the processes. So, all these processes take
place, and the resignations we demanded happen under the pressure of
the movement.
From: A. Papazian