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ARARAT MKRTCHYAN: "TALKS BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND GOVERNMENT LAID FOUNDATION FOR NEW POLITICAL CULTURE IN ARMENIA"
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan
Vestnik Kavkaza
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/22343.html
Jan 26 2012
Russia
Ex-Health Minister of Armenia and member of social-democratic party
'Gnchak' Ararat Lazarian told VK correspondent about his summary of
2011 and made some predictions for 2012.
- What were the most important events in the political life of Armenia
last year?
- The ruling coalition completely failed to observe its election
promises, as well as the development program for 2008-2012. The
new budget for 2012 simply doesn't have the funds to carry out
the program. Even the PM admitted the high level of poverty and
emigration. Different international monitoring organizations also
agree that the state of affairs in Armenia is deplorable.
As for the Armenian National Congress, it had made a number of
decisive steps towards forming a true civic society in our country. By
increasing constitutional pressure on the government, the opposition
managed to free political convicts, to freely organize rallies and
political meetings. And most importantly, it managed to open up a
direct dialog with the government. In my opinion these talks between
opposition and government laid foundation to the new political culture
in Armenia.
- Do you think this dialog will also influence the outcome of the
future elections in a positive manner?
- Of course, if the parties learn to compromise, they will try to reach
an agreement in the face of serious challenges. Despite harsh rhetoric,
I believe there will be open pre-election TV-debates that would ensure
the highest level of elections' transparency possible in Armenia.
- How would you characterize the developments within the ruling
coalition?
- After the events of March, 1 of 2008 there exist certain tensions
between the two parties that form the ruling coalition - the
'Prosperous Armenia' party and the Republican Party of Armenia. In the
second half of 2011 the rift became more obvious. The latest arrests of
'Prosperous Armenia' members became the culmination of this face-off.
I think this conflict will only escalate. The President and the
Republican Party of Armenia try to make the 'Prosperous Armenia'
party members participate in the elections in the RPA's lists, at it
will certainly cause some resistance.
As for the third nominal member of the ruling coalition, the "State
of law" party, it is not a self-standing political force, it agrees
with the Republican Party on all important matters.
- What is the role of recent high officials' resignations in this
process?
- I don't think there was any political background to these
resignations. It looked more like an interior conflict within the
ruling elite, and the resignations were aimed at strengthening of
the President's authority.
- You've mentioned that the authorities failed to observe their
promises. But the Armenian National Congress also failed to reach its
goal posed in 2011 - to change the power in the country. So what is
the atmosphere in the opposition camp today?
- 2011 was a hard and eventful for the opposition. The ANC is
undergoing the process of consolidation and restructing. Some
politicians left the association, but it didn't have any major impact.
Yes, the ANC couldn't constitutionally change the power, but it is
still possible that current critical situation in economy combined
with ANC's efforts would lead to early elections.
- What can you tell us about the political year 2011 in general?
- I think it wasn't successful for our country.
- What event will be the most important one in 2012, how do you think?
- The parliamentary elections scheduled for May and the presidential
elections that are supposed to take place 8 months later. The
presidential campaigning will begin right after the parliamentary
polls.
From: A. Papazian
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan
Vestnik Kavkaza
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/22343.html
Jan 26 2012
Russia
Ex-Health Minister of Armenia and member of social-democratic party
'Gnchak' Ararat Lazarian told VK correspondent about his summary of
2011 and made some predictions for 2012.
- What were the most important events in the political life of Armenia
last year?
- The ruling coalition completely failed to observe its election
promises, as well as the development program for 2008-2012. The
new budget for 2012 simply doesn't have the funds to carry out
the program. Even the PM admitted the high level of poverty and
emigration. Different international monitoring organizations also
agree that the state of affairs in Armenia is deplorable.
As for the Armenian National Congress, it had made a number of
decisive steps towards forming a true civic society in our country. By
increasing constitutional pressure on the government, the opposition
managed to free political convicts, to freely organize rallies and
political meetings. And most importantly, it managed to open up a
direct dialog with the government. In my opinion these talks between
opposition and government laid foundation to the new political culture
in Armenia.
- Do you think this dialog will also influence the outcome of the
future elections in a positive manner?
- Of course, if the parties learn to compromise, they will try to reach
an agreement in the face of serious challenges. Despite harsh rhetoric,
I believe there will be open pre-election TV-debates that would ensure
the highest level of elections' transparency possible in Armenia.
- How would you characterize the developments within the ruling
coalition?
- After the events of March, 1 of 2008 there exist certain tensions
between the two parties that form the ruling coalition - the
'Prosperous Armenia' party and the Republican Party of Armenia. In the
second half of 2011 the rift became more obvious. The latest arrests of
'Prosperous Armenia' members became the culmination of this face-off.
I think this conflict will only escalate. The President and the
Republican Party of Armenia try to make the 'Prosperous Armenia'
party members participate in the elections in the RPA's lists, at it
will certainly cause some resistance.
As for the third nominal member of the ruling coalition, the "State
of law" party, it is not a self-standing political force, it agrees
with the Republican Party on all important matters.
- What is the role of recent high officials' resignations in this
process?
- I don't think there was any political background to these
resignations. It looked more like an interior conflict within the
ruling elite, and the resignations were aimed at strengthening of
the President's authority.
- You've mentioned that the authorities failed to observe their
promises. But the Armenian National Congress also failed to reach its
goal posed in 2011 - to change the power in the country. So what is
the atmosphere in the opposition camp today?
- 2011 was a hard and eventful for the opposition. The ANC is
undergoing the process of consolidation and restructing. Some
politicians left the association, but it didn't have any major impact.
Yes, the ANC couldn't constitutionally change the power, but it is
still possible that current critical situation in economy combined
with ANC's efforts would lead to early elections.
- What can you tell us about the political year 2011 in general?
- I think it wasn't successful for our country.
- What event will be the most important one in 2012, how do you think?
- The parliamentary elections scheduled for May and the presidential
elections that are supposed to take place 8 months later. The
presidential campaigning will begin right after the parliamentary
polls.
From: A. Papazian