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ROBERT KOCHARYAN: "THE FIGHT FOR POWER BETWEEN TWO LONGTIME COMPANIONS WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME"
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/6600
Tuesday 15 January 2013 11:27
Exclusive interview of the second Armenian President to Mediamax
- Mr. Kocharyan, the public expected you to take part in presidential
elections, but it did not happen. Why did you decide so and how do
you assess the current political situation in the country?
- The political situation is so dull that the only reason for this
interview is my promise to give it. Of course, I know that there were
some expectations of my possible participation in upcoming elections.
Although I have never spoken of my intention to participate in
elections, anyhow I deem it necessary to give some explanations. I
would single out three circumstances which forced me to refrain from
returning to active politics.
First: the fight for power between two natives of Karabakh, longtime
companions, was unacceptable for me. It would make it difficult
for many people to make a choice and would become a topic for
various speculations. Besides, I myself have chosen the incumbent
President as a successor, and his desire to run for the second term
is understandable.
Second: I wouldn't like to participate in the formation of a format
of three Presidents fighting for power, which is extremely unpleasant,
and I believe very harmful for the country.
Third: the search for a political compromise in Armenia has transformed
into small-retail political bargaining. This is not what I would like
to spend my time, knowledge and experience on.
These factors are certainly not fundamental, but I think they are
very weighty from emotional and ethic points of view. This is why
I gave brief interviews and only in cases when it would be simply
impossible not to react to the situation.
- And what about fundamental factors? In your previous interviews
you spoke about such factors as the migration, the economic situation
and political competition. How would you assess today's situation?
- The fundamental factors unfortunately do not inspire optimism as
before. The population outflow from Armenia doesn't reduce, and this
is not a labor migration. The tendency is extremely dangerous given a
low birthrate and aging population. It is not accidental that migration
is called country's health cardiogram.
The economy began to grow, but will it be a steady growth with
decreasing investments, and how much will it be conditioned by
increasing debt commitments? Even with an expected GDP growth of
7% in 2012 we won't reach the level of 2008 in comparable figures
(98%), with over a three-fold increase in the ratio of public debt
to GDP (with the deteriorating structure of the debt). By the way,
the restoration of railway communication through Abkhazia, which is
quite possible after recent transformations in Georgia, could be a
serious positive stimulus for our economy.
As for the political competition, it became like a puppet show
ahead of elections, which cannot contribute to the effective work
of authorities and generates apathy in the society. It's well known
that without competition the authorities sleep peacefully but people,
as a rule, live badly.
It's extremely difficult to reverse these trends by measured efforts
of the government. They need something more, a mobilizing society
which would inspire hope and impel to act. I hope the authorities
will meet these challenges.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/6600
Tuesday 15 January 2013 11:27
Exclusive interview of the second Armenian President to Mediamax
- Mr. Kocharyan, the public expected you to take part in presidential
elections, but it did not happen. Why did you decide so and how do
you assess the current political situation in the country?
- The political situation is so dull that the only reason for this
interview is my promise to give it. Of course, I know that there were
some expectations of my possible participation in upcoming elections.
Although I have never spoken of my intention to participate in
elections, anyhow I deem it necessary to give some explanations. I
would single out three circumstances which forced me to refrain from
returning to active politics.
First: the fight for power between two natives of Karabakh, longtime
companions, was unacceptable for me. It would make it difficult
for many people to make a choice and would become a topic for
various speculations. Besides, I myself have chosen the incumbent
President as a successor, and his desire to run for the second term
is understandable.
Second: I wouldn't like to participate in the formation of a format
of three Presidents fighting for power, which is extremely unpleasant,
and I believe very harmful for the country.
Third: the search for a political compromise in Armenia has transformed
into small-retail political bargaining. This is not what I would like
to spend my time, knowledge and experience on.
These factors are certainly not fundamental, but I think they are
very weighty from emotional and ethic points of view. This is why
I gave brief interviews and only in cases when it would be simply
impossible not to react to the situation.
- And what about fundamental factors? In your previous interviews
you spoke about such factors as the migration, the economic situation
and political competition. How would you assess today's situation?
- The fundamental factors unfortunately do not inspire optimism as
before. The population outflow from Armenia doesn't reduce, and this
is not a labor migration. The tendency is extremely dangerous given a
low birthrate and aging population. It is not accidental that migration
is called country's health cardiogram.
The economy began to grow, but will it be a steady growth with
decreasing investments, and how much will it be conditioned by
increasing debt commitments? Even with an expected GDP growth of
7% in 2012 we won't reach the level of 2008 in comparable figures
(98%), with over a three-fold increase in the ratio of public debt
to GDP (with the deteriorating structure of the debt). By the way,
the restoration of railway communication through Abkhazia, which is
quite possible after recent transformations in Georgia, could be a
serious positive stimulus for our economy.
As for the political competition, it became like a puppet show
ahead of elections, which cannot contribute to the effective work
of authorities and generates apathy in the society. It's well known
that without competition the authorities sleep peacefully but people,
as a rule, live badly.
It's extremely difficult to reverse these trends by measured efforts
of the government. They need something more, a mobilizing society
which would inspire hope and impel to act. I hope the authorities
will meet these challenges.