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EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: UPCOMING PERSONNEL RESHUFFLE AND REFORMS WILL AVOID MERGER OF BIG BUSINESS AND POLITICS
ArmInfo's Interview with Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of Armenian
National Assembly, Spokesperson of Republican Party of Armenia
by Tatevik Shahunyan
ARMINFO Friday, February 22, 19:11
Mr. Sharmazanov, how would you sum up the past presidential election?
What conclusion has the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) made after
analyzing the election results?
The results of the past election deny the opinion that the election was
not competitive, the President does not enjoy the vote of confidence
and that the Armenian public has lost the interest in the electoral
processes. The voting results have demonstrated quite the opposite -
Armenian President enjoys the confidence of the majority of voters
(58.64%). By the way, the RPA forecasted almost the same results. The
second conclusion is that the election passed in a competitive
atmosphere, and the unprecedented high result of Heritage Leader Raffi
Hovannisian (36.75%) is the direct evidence of that. And the high voter
turnout (61%) demonstrates the political activity of our public. All
this is once again confirmed by the international observers' positive
assessment of the presidential election in Armenia.
Mr. Vice Speaker, how would you explain the high result demonstrated
by Heritage Party Leader Raffi Hovannisian at the presidential
election given that a few months before the presidential election
his party had obtained only 5% of votes and that during the electoral
campaign Hovannisian practically made use of no paid air time on TV
and conducted rather passive campaign in the capital of Armenia?
This has happened due to the fact that Raffi Hovannisian was
undoubtedly the much-fancied opposition candidate for president,
and the whole protesting electorate consolidated around him.
How would you forecast the post-electoral processes?
I think the opposition will not step twice into the same river,
I mean the post-electoral developments in 2008. If the opposition
speaks of democracy and democratic elections, it should realize that
democracy implies bilateral ensuring of the game rules and does not at
all imply usurpation of power. If the defeated candidate refuses to
acknowledge his defeat and congratulate his opponent on his victory,
then he lacks political culture. In general, the Armenian opposition's
opinion that the defeated candidate striving for no radical steps is a
betrayer is simply absurd and dead-ended. If Raffi Hovannisian and his
team have unfulfilled ambitions, the election of the Yerevan Elders'
Council will be held in May, and they can try their fate again. And
if Hovannisian has presidential ambitions, he has no other choice
than waiting for the presidential election 2018. Any other actions
of Hovannisian, aimed at gaining the presidential seat, will run
counter to the Constitution and receive the relevant response from
the authorized structures. Nobody has the right to exert pressure on
the majority's will. But given the political culture of Hovannisian,
I have no doubt that his fight will be exclusively constitutional
and will only imply a series of protest actions.
Do you think the opposition forces may consolidate around Raffi
Hovannisian? If yes, how will it affect the domestic political
situation in the country?
It should be noted that the opposition political forces' electorate had
already consolidated around Hovannisian at the presidential election,
which was proved by the high number of votes he obtained.
So, one should not cherish any illusions in this context, i.e. the
situation will not change if one of the opposition leaders says that
he supports the Heritage leader.
May provision of some key posts to the opposition, particularly,
Heritage, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) be a
compromise, especially as according to some media reports, there is
already such arrangement with the PAP?
It will depend on the further political processes. Everything is
possible theoretically. The Republican Party has always been guided by
expediency, not by partisan interests. It is not an end in itself to
fill the Cabinet with RPA members only. If the need to create a new
coalition or a new format of power-opposition cooperation emerges,
the RPA will be ready to do that, though it should be noted that the
party has not discussed such an issue.
Mr. Sharmazanov, the issue of formation of the future Government of
Armenia is being actively spoken about. Has the RPA discussed it? Will
the new Government include new persons? If yes, what criteria will
you be guided by?
The party has not yet discussed the issue of the new Government. But
the fact that it will include new persons is doubtless, as the changes
are the driving force of progress. But these changes will not be
artificial. The staff will be selected according to the principle of
efficiency. In addition, the upcoming personnel reshuffle will avoid
merger of big business and politics.
Before the presidential election many wondered whether Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan will retain his post in the new Government. Some
versions said this post would be given to the Prosperous Armenia Party
as a compromise for non-participation in the presidential election.
They also said that Tigran Sargsyan would lose his post, as Moscow
dislikes him as a pro-European statesman...
Let me reply to the last part of your question about Moscow's
"discontent" with Tigran Sargsyan and the latter's "possible"
resignation. I should stresses that the personnel policy issues in
Armenia are tackled by the ruling RPA and its leader - President Sezrh
Sargsyan. The geopolitical factors play absolutely no role here. In
addition, I do not share the opinion that Russia is discontent with
the Armenian Government's position. During Tigran Sargsyan's term in
the premier's office, the Armenian-Russian economic cooperation was
activated even more. As regards the core of the question, I should
point out that such issues are tackled at the professional level,
not personal one. It is not important who occupies that post, it is
important how well he copes with the tasks. Over the past five years,
despite some shortcomings, Tigran Sargsyan effectively implemented
the programs of the ruling party, the President and the Government.
These days there are rumors that the local self-government
representatives who did not ensure a victory of the Republican
candidate in the presidential election in their communities will lose
their positions...
It is difficult to answer this question. Anyway, all the changes will
depend on the efficiency of the work of officials.
From: A. Papazian
ArmInfo's Interview with Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of Armenian
National Assembly, Spokesperson of Republican Party of Armenia
by Tatevik Shahunyan
ARMINFO Friday, February 22, 19:11
Mr. Sharmazanov, how would you sum up the past presidential election?
What conclusion has the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) made after
analyzing the election results?
The results of the past election deny the opinion that the election was
not competitive, the President does not enjoy the vote of confidence
and that the Armenian public has lost the interest in the electoral
processes. The voting results have demonstrated quite the opposite -
Armenian President enjoys the confidence of the majority of voters
(58.64%). By the way, the RPA forecasted almost the same results. The
second conclusion is that the election passed in a competitive
atmosphere, and the unprecedented high result of Heritage Leader Raffi
Hovannisian (36.75%) is the direct evidence of that. And the high voter
turnout (61%) demonstrates the political activity of our public. All
this is once again confirmed by the international observers' positive
assessment of the presidential election in Armenia.
Mr. Vice Speaker, how would you explain the high result demonstrated
by Heritage Party Leader Raffi Hovannisian at the presidential
election given that a few months before the presidential election
his party had obtained only 5% of votes and that during the electoral
campaign Hovannisian practically made use of no paid air time on TV
and conducted rather passive campaign in the capital of Armenia?
This has happened due to the fact that Raffi Hovannisian was
undoubtedly the much-fancied opposition candidate for president,
and the whole protesting electorate consolidated around him.
How would you forecast the post-electoral processes?
I think the opposition will not step twice into the same river,
I mean the post-electoral developments in 2008. If the opposition
speaks of democracy and democratic elections, it should realize that
democracy implies bilateral ensuring of the game rules and does not at
all imply usurpation of power. If the defeated candidate refuses to
acknowledge his defeat and congratulate his opponent on his victory,
then he lacks political culture. In general, the Armenian opposition's
opinion that the defeated candidate striving for no radical steps is a
betrayer is simply absurd and dead-ended. If Raffi Hovannisian and his
team have unfulfilled ambitions, the election of the Yerevan Elders'
Council will be held in May, and they can try their fate again. And
if Hovannisian has presidential ambitions, he has no other choice
than waiting for the presidential election 2018. Any other actions
of Hovannisian, aimed at gaining the presidential seat, will run
counter to the Constitution and receive the relevant response from
the authorized structures. Nobody has the right to exert pressure on
the majority's will. But given the political culture of Hovannisian,
I have no doubt that his fight will be exclusively constitutional
and will only imply a series of protest actions.
Do you think the opposition forces may consolidate around Raffi
Hovannisian? If yes, how will it affect the domestic political
situation in the country?
It should be noted that the opposition political forces' electorate had
already consolidated around Hovannisian at the presidential election,
which was proved by the high number of votes he obtained.
So, one should not cherish any illusions in this context, i.e. the
situation will not change if one of the opposition leaders says that
he supports the Heritage leader.
May provision of some key posts to the opposition, particularly,
Heritage, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) be a
compromise, especially as according to some media reports, there is
already such arrangement with the PAP?
It will depend on the further political processes. Everything is
possible theoretically. The Republican Party has always been guided by
expediency, not by partisan interests. It is not an end in itself to
fill the Cabinet with RPA members only. If the need to create a new
coalition or a new format of power-opposition cooperation emerges,
the RPA will be ready to do that, though it should be noted that the
party has not discussed such an issue.
Mr. Sharmazanov, the issue of formation of the future Government of
Armenia is being actively spoken about. Has the RPA discussed it? Will
the new Government include new persons? If yes, what criteria will
you be guided by?
The party has not yet discussed the issue of the new Government. But
the fact that it will include new persons is doubtless, as the changes
are the driving force of progress. But these changes will not be
artificial. The staff will be selected according to the principle of
efficiency. In addition, the upcoming personnel reshuffle will avoid
merger of big business and politics.
Before the presidential election many wondered whether Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan will retain his post in the new Government. Some
versions said this post would be given to the Prosperous Armenia Party
as a compromise for non-participation in the presidential election.
They also said that Tigran Sargsyan would lose his post, as Moscow
dislikes him as a pro-European statesman...
Let me reply to the last part of your question about Moscow's
"discontent" with Tigran Sargsyan and the latter's "possible"
resignation. I should stresses that the personnel policy issues in
Armenia are tackled by the ruling RPA and its leader - President Sezrh
Sargsyan. The geopolitical factors play absolutely no role here. In
addition, I do not share the opinion that Russia is discontent with
the Armenian Government's position. During Tigran Sargsyan's term in
the premier's office, the Armenian-Russian economic cooperation was
activated even more. As regards the core of the question, I should
point out that such issues are tackled at the professional level,
not personal one. It is not important who occupies that post, it is
important how well he copes with the tasks. Over the past five years,
despite some shortcomings, Tigran Sargsyan effectively implemented
the programs of the ruling party, the President and the Government.
These days there are rumors that the local self-government
representatives who did not ensure a victory of the Republican
candidate in the presidential election in their communities will lose
their positions...
It is difficult to answer this question. Anyway, all the changes will
depend on the efficiency of the work of officials.
From: A. Papazian