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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 26 2013
`After the self-elimination of Armenian political forces, the role of
foreign players grew'
26 April 2013 - 8:31am
Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Director Tigran Khzmalyan, the representative of the initiative group
of the Sardarapat opposition movement, commented for Vestnik Kavkaza
on prospects of the protest movement in Armenia.
- What were reasons for appearance of `Revolution of
Greeting', a protest movement headed by Raffi Ovannisyan?
- The party system was destroyed in the republic completely
when Prosperous Armenia, Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian National
Congress, and other political forces decided not to take part in the
parliamentary elections. Armenian parties didn't fulfill their direct
duties because they didn't represent the society. They were kind of
clubs established around an oligarch who gathered people interested in
the protection of their economic interests. So, they failed to protect
the society from the regime, when it was needed.
In fact, political parties disappeared in Armenia after the tragic
events on March 1st, 2008. Only labels remained, but in autumn 2012
they disappeared as well. After self-elimination of Armenian political
forces, the role of foreign players grew. At the same time, these
players have never been interested in destruction of Armenian parties,
unlike three presidents of Armenia, who since 1995tried to destroy the
political field of the country and establish such pocket parties as
the Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia.
- Who was interested in the processes which resulted in the
appearance of the Armenian president and an opposition controlled by
foreign forces?
- Foreign forces which try to replace the ruling junta by a
new colonialism policy in Armenia. After the self-elimination of
Armenian political forces, the vacuum in the political field was
filled with the civil society. Social movements intensified -
protectors of the Mashtots park, environmentalists, civil activists
who fight for justice in army and courts. These processes seemed
especially dangerous for foreign controllers. And an attempt to settle
its own problems by the Armenian society was considered abroad
nervously. An inevitable shift to the bourgeois-democratic system is
taking place in Armenia. The last leader who managed to consolidate
the public movement of Armenia was the head of Heritage Party Raffi
Ovannisyan.
- Why do you say `was'?
- Because on April 9th, the day of Serge Sargsyan's
inauguration, Ovannisyan and his Heritage turned away from the public
movement and returned to the Armenian political system, preparing for
next elections. After Ovannisyan's two-month activity, foreigners who
monitor the situation in Armenia realized that it could lead to
unexpected consequences for the current political and socio-economic
system of Armenia. On April 9th Ovannisyan faced the fact - he was
offered rejection from leadership in the public movement for
improvement of his power in the party.
- Why did Western power centers help Sargsyan to stay in
office, despite the fact the pro-Western Ovannisyan seems more
beneficial for them?
- The current president fulfilled most of the tasks set to
him by the West. In 2008 Sargsyan was saved by an ability to balance
between Soviet values and Western, bourgeois-democratic values.
Sargsyan took duties which were assigned to Levon Ter-Petrosyan. As he
continued fulfilling this function, he managed to weaken Ovannisyan by
April 9th, 2013. However, he cannot get rid of the military-federal
heritage. That is why the West didn't support Ter-Petrosyan in
2009-2010. In the modern world no bourgeois leader can come in office
at the discretion of people. Leaders come in power due to
behind-the-scene intrigues, agreements, and will of certain power
centers. And Armenia doesn't even hide this.
- What can be an alternative way of development for Armenia?
- The bourgeois-democratic model doesn't require anything but
new colonialism. Only the democratic development model is acceptable
for Armenia, which is implemented in the countries where societies
govern through referendums. In Iceland and Switzerland citizens use
their national resources in favor of their countries. In Armenia
resources are being robbed by foreign companies. We associate
development of Armenia not with political parties and foreign forces,
but with development of the civil society.
- What is the Russian role in these processes?
- Russia continues playing an important role in internal
processes of Armenia. Unfortunately, the process of reduction of
duties, traditional control spheres, and Russia's influence is taking
place today. The South Caucasus is a bright example of it: Georgia,
Azerbaijan, and now Armenia . The Armenians continue to treat Russia
and the Russians warmly, but now we have raised a generation which
doesn't think the pro-Russian direction is the only option.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/39704.html
From: A. Papazian
April 26 2013
`After the self-elimination of Armenian political forces, the role of
foreign players grew'
26 April 2013 - 8:31am
Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Director Tigran Khzmalyan, the representative of the initiative group
of the Sardarapat opposition movement, commented for Vestnik Kavkaza
on prospects of the protest movement in Armenia.
- What were reasons for appearance of `Revolution of
Greeting', a protest movement headed by Raffi Ovannisyan?
- The party system was destroyed in the republic completely
when Prosperous Armenia, Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian National
Congress, and other political forces decided not to take part in the
parliamentary elections. Armenian parties didn't fulfill their direct
duties because they didn't represent the society. They were kind of
clubs established around an oligarch who gathered people interested in
the protection of their economic interests. So, they failed to protect
the society from the regime, when it was needed.
In fact, political parties disappeared in Armenia after the tragic
events on March 1st, 2008. Only labels remained, but in autumn 2012
they disappeared as well. After self-elimination of Armenian political
forces, the role of foreign players grew. At the same time, these
players have never been interested in destruction of Armenian parties,
unlike three presidents of Armenia, who since 1995tried to destroy the
political field of the country and establish such pocket parties as
the Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia.
- Who was interested in the processes which resulted in the
appearance of the Armenian president and an opposition controlled by
foreign forces?
- Foreign forces which try to replace the ruling junta by a
new colonialism policy in Armenia. After the self-elimination of
Armenian political forces, the vacuum in the political field was
filled with the civil society. Social movements intensified -
protectors of the Mashtots park, environmentalists, civil activists
who fight for justice in army and courts. These processes seemed
especially dangerous for foreign controllers. And an attempt to settle
its own problems by the Armenian society was considered abroad
nervously. An inevitable shift to the bourgeois-democratic system is
taking place in Armenia. The last leader who managed to consolidate
the public movement of Armenia was the head of Heritage Party Raffi
Ovannisyan.
- Why do you say `was'?
- Because on April 9th, the day of Serge Sargsyan's
inauguration, Ovannisyan and his Heritage turned away from the public
movement and returned to the Armenian political system, preparing for
next elections. After Ovannisyan's two-month activity, foreigners who
monitor the situation in Armenia realized that it could lead to
unexpected consequences for the current political and socio-economic
system of Armenia. On April 9th Ovannisyan faced the fact - he was
offered rejection from leadership in the public movement for
improvement of his power in the party.
- Why did Western power centers help Sargsyan to stay in
office, despite the fact the pro-Western Ovannisyan seems more
beneficial for them?
- The current president fulfilled most of the tasks set to
him by the West. In 2008 Sargsyan was saved by an ability to balance
between Soviet values and Western, bourgeois-democratic values.
Sargsyan took duties which were assigned to Levon Ter-Petrosyan. As he
continued fulfilling this function, he managed to weaken Ovannisyan by
April 9th, 2013. However, he cannot get rid of the military-federal
heritage. That is why the West didn't support Ter-Petrosyan in
2009-2010. In the modern world no bourgeois leader can come in office
at the discretion of people. Leaders come in power due to
behind-the-scene intrigues, agreements, and will of certain power
centers. And Armenia doesn't even hide this.
- What can be an alternative way of development for Armenia?
- The bourgeois-democratic model doesn't require anything but
new colonialism. Only the democratic development model is acceptable
for Armenia, which is implemented in the countries where societies
govern through referendums. In Iceland and Switzerland citizens use
their national resources in favor of their countries. In Armenia
resources are being robbed by foreign companies. We associate
development of Armenia not with political parties and foreign forces,
but with development of the civil society.
- What is the Russian role in these processes?
- Russia continues playing an important role in internal
processes of Armenia. Unfortunately, the process of reduction of
duties, traditional control spheres, and Russia's influence is taking
place today. The South Caucasus is a bright example of it: Georgia,
Azerbaijan, and now Armenia . The Armenians continue to treat Russia
and the Russians warmly, but now we have raised a generation which
doesn't think the pro-Russian direction is the only option.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/39704.html
From: A. Papazian