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`The People Will Guide Me to the Summit': An Interview with Raffi Hovannisian
by Christian Garbis
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/17/interview-hovannisian/
March 17, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.) - It is just after 9 a.m. on day six of Raffi
Hovannisian's hunger strike on symbolic Liberty Square, in protest of
the elections the opposition believes were stolen from the Armenian
people, who he insists are indeed the victors. Only a few of the
thousands of visitors he will receive throughout the day linger
nearby, in support of his protest and the movement known as the
Barevolution, supported by his Heritage Party, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
and various dynamic political figures including the presidential
candidate Andreas Ghukasian and Nikol Pashinian, who is affiliated
with the Armenian National Congress. The metal park bench on which he
sits is draped with a crocheted red, blue and orange quilt sporting
the same colors of the Armenian flag. At arms length a crackly radio
plays Armenian popular and folk music while he thumbs through a
newspaper and is briefed by one of his sons sitting beside him.
Hovannisian on Freedom Square (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)
Hovannisian is clothed in his now trademark revolutionary uniform - a
navy blue wool turtleneck sweater and matching scarf with narrow
orange and red stripes running its length. His bronzy face is tanned
from prolonged exposure to the sun as there is virtually no shade in
the spot where he sits most of the day, not that he is complaining.
For him, it's all about being there for the people, and his
nourishment is the unwavering support they give him around the clock.
The authorities led by incumbent Serge Sarkisian continue their
refusal to compromise with Hovannisian - and thus the people - to hold a
second round of presidential elections and snap parliamentary
elections after switching to a fully proportional system of
representation, and to bring election violators, namely public
servants at various levels, before the law. I sat down with him to
probe the mind of a man that is emphatically dedicated in the pursuit
of Armenian citizens' rights to a lawful, free democratic society.
***
The Armenian Weekly - The constitutional court has rejected the
opposition's appeals, and now you plan to hold public forums at
Liberty Square for five days straight starting on March 17 where views
can be exchanged about Armenia's future. But that still leaves us with
your `over my dead body' quote in reference to Sarkisian taking the
oath for a second term on April 9. You have also said that you were
ready to die for this movement. This suggests a forewarning that there
could potentially be an outbreak of violence. Do you think it will
come to that?
Raffi Hovannisian - No, it won't. We will continue very steadily and
constitutionally toward the end of a de jure presidency, regardless of
the constitutional court's decision.
This movement, the Barevolution, belongs to the Armenian people, which
is so intangible and unpredictable for so many people who two months
ago did not at all believe in themselves or each other, that they
could emerge from their fatalism and hopelessness and take their
destiny and constitution into their own hands. I am very proud of this
movement and proud to be a part of it. I'm ready not only to die, but
to live for it. I plan to serve the people for a long time but as I've
said, this is not a fast or a hunger strike, this is the last stage in
returning Armenia to the people and taking the victory of February 18
to a final summit on April 9, when together we will realize the
inauguration of a new Armenia.
A.W. - Nevertheless, there is a segment of society that believes the
only way to get through to certain members of parliament and
government with reputations for being heavy handed is through violent
means.
R.H. - I rule that out. Whereas five years ago the call `until the end'
meant blood or revolution, today based on the people's candidacy that
same slogan means a peaceful, constitutional quest for a de jure
presidency. There shall not be blood, and I will not allow it. My
initiative is not an ultimatum to anyone. It is a self-cleansing
process for myself, and the entry to the final decisive stage in the
struggle toward registering the victory of the Armenian people
delivered on February 18.
A.W. - Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People's Party-of
which both the Heritage Party and Republican Party of Armenia are
member organizations-warmly congratulated Sarkisian and praised the
conduct of the elections while shrugging off claims of gross
violations, insisting that he won fair and square. Similar glowing
statements were made by leaders of the Council of Europe and the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), the Armenian
delegation to which includes Heritage Party MPs. In your opinion, why
are relations between those entities and the authorities so cordial to
the extent that they would not take a more objective, diplomatic
stance on the election outcome?
R.H. - What concerns me more is that we - the Armenian people who have
brought democracy, the rule of law and faith in the homeland - are the
masters of our own destiny. Although they [world leaders who have
congratulated Sarkisian] stand against the people of Armenia and the
democratic movement for their own geopolitical concerns and interests
and support the candidacy of a gentleman whose official results as
registered by the Central Election Commission were actually delivered
by fraud, falsification, intimidation, multiple voting, taking
soldiers to the polls, threatening teachers, using hospitals, schools,
town halls and village cultural centers to post campaign materials of
the incumbent president, there clearly is no basis to recognize the
illegitimate official winner of the election. But as someone born in
the U.S. who has been educated on the values of democracy, civil
rights and constitutional law, I can say that these statements from
world leaders fly in the face of their own principles. Armenia is one
of the earliest sources of Western civilization. Let no one sermonize
the Armenian people on democracy because they have delivered on their
own constitution.
A.W. - Some believe that for this movement to have a broader support the
Armenian National Congress has to come on board. What is impeding that
from happening?
R.H. - The Heritage Party and I have always been in favor of
consolidation in all the elections in which we have participated.
Right now I am open to discussing matters with anyone. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan has acknowledged that I indeed won the election, but the
Congress hasn't sought to deepen that relationship.
But what's important is that on February 18 the political model of
Armenia changed. Citizens faced with a boycott of the elections by
many political and civic groups said `no.' I believed in them, they
believed in me, and together we brought victory. At this point it
would be a sign of strength for political parties or civic movements,
whether they participated in the elections or not, to announce that
they are part of this movement. As I've said from the podium, the
Heritage flag has been lowered because the people recognize that after
a long period of labor we are about to deliver the new Armenia, in
which political parties have to play a secondary role. They must know
that no political party can be the pivot for Armenia's future.
Citizens and political parties have to reassess their roles to serve
society. So I don't think it is key that any two organizations come
together. People should understand the gravity of the moment and come
together. The people have spoken and we have to respect that choice.
A.W. - While you continue to protest the presidential election outcome
discussions were held about forming a unified opposition bloc for the
Yerevan municipal elections. Yet the same violations that the
opposition cited will undoubtedly repeat. Why have the municipal
elections become so important while the presidential vote is still
being contested?
R.H. - I wouldn't say they're so important, but I am in favor of
participatory democracy. You can't curse the darkness, you have to
light a candle, and the experience of the last two months demonstrated
very well that by sitting on the sidelines you cannot bring about
change. You have to participate and mobilize. I think the Yerevan
elections are an opportunity not to replace this movement but be an
offshoot of it. We will put together a broad-based list, which I
anticipate will include members from civil organizations and other
political parties, and the mayor and the majority of the city council
will be appointed from that list. We're going to every city and
village that has an election, and we're going to return public service
to the people.
A.W. - What message can you give now to both your staunch critics-those
who believe you have no plan, that your current action is a sign of
desperation and the movement will not get anywhere-and your loyal
supporters based abroad who are genuinely concerned about the
direction in which the movement is headed?
R.H. - I believe in free speech and I respect their opinions. I
sometimes learn a lot from criticism when it's founded and honest, but
when it's based on partisanship and hatred, that is not acceptable to
me. Everything is going according to plan, and the plan belongs to the
Armenian people. What differentiates today from five years ago and
beyond is that this movement is no longer an individual-based quest
for liberty and the presidency. This movement takes on the legacy of
the past, the struggle of the Armenian people over the last 21 years
to have a state that is democratic, rightful and sovereign in pursuit
of its national interests. While I am the elected guide for the
movement, it is not a one-man show and it's greater than Liberty
Square. If you were to travel with me to the villages and cities of
Armenia, to the concerts, theaters, weddings and university squares on
bus rides all around the country, you would see that there is a great
sense of empowerment.
Before he died the poet Yeghishe Charents wrote in his acrostic, `Oh
Armenian people, your salvation is in your collective strength,' and
on election day the people put his message into action by saying `yes'
to Armenia's future. That future is based on a brand new plan that is
not 100 pages long, but in terms of its implementation let it be clear
that I know exactly where I am going. I also know that the Armenian
people will guide me to that final summit.
by Christian Garbis
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/03/17/interview-hovannisian/
March 17, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.) - It is just after 9 a.m. on day six of Raffi
Hovannisian's hunger strike on symbolic Liberty Square, in protest of
the elections the opposition believes were stolen from the Armenian
people, who he insists are indeed the victors. Only a few of the
thousands of visitors he will receive throughout the day linger
nearby, in support of his protest and the movement known as the
Barevolution, supported by his Heritage Party, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
and various dynamic political figures including the presidential
candidate Andreas Ghukasian and Nikol Pashinian, who is affiliated
with the Armenian National Congress. The metal park bench on which he
sits is draped with a crocheted red, blue and orange quilt sporting
the same colors of the Armenian flag. At arms length a crackly radio
plays Armenian popular and folk music while he thumbs through a
newspaper and is briefed by one of his sons sitting beside him.
Hovannisian on Freedom Square (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)
Hovannisian is clothed in his now trademark revolutionary uniform - a
navy blue wool turtleneck sweater and matching scarf with narrow
orange and red stripes running its length. His bronzy face is tanned
from prolonged exposure to the sun as there is virtually no shade in
the spot where he sits most of the day, not that he is complaining.
For him, it's all about being there for the people, and his
nourishment is the unwavering support they give him around the clock.
The authorities led by incumbent Serge Sarkisian continue their
refusal to compromise with Hovannisian - and thus the people - to hold a
second round of presidential elections and snap parliamentary
elections after switching to a fully proportional system of
representation, and to bring election violators, namely public
servants at various levels, before the law. I sat down with him to
probe the mind of a man that is emphatically dedicated in the pursuit
of Armenian citizens' rights to a lawful, free democratic society.
***
The Armenian Weekly - The constitutional court has rejected the
opposition's appeals, and now you plan to hold public forums at
Liberty Square for five days straight starting on March 17 where views
can be exchanged about Armenia's future. But that still leaves us with
your `over my dead body' quote in reference to Sarkisian taking the
oath for a second term on April 9. You have also said that you were
ready to die for this movement. This suggests a forewarning that there
could potentially be an outbreak of violence. Do you think it will
come to that?
Raffi Hovannisian - No, it won't. We will continue very steadily and
constitutionally toward the end of a de jure presidency, regardless of
the constitutional court's decision.
This movement, the Barevolution, belongs to the Armenian people, which
is so intangible and unpredictable for so many people who two months
ago did not at all believe in themselves or each other, that they
could emerge from their fatalism and hopelessness and take their
destiny and constitution into their own hands. I am very proud of this
movement and proud to be a part of it. I'm ready not only to die, but
to live for it. I plan to serve the people for a long time but as I've
said, this is not a fast or a hunger strike, this is the last stage in
returning Armenia to the people and taking the victory of February 18
to a final summit on April 9, when together we will realize the
inauguration of a new Armenia.
A.W. - Nevertheless, there is a segment of society that believes the
only way to get through to certain members of parliament and
government with reputations for being heavy handed is through violent
means.
R.H. - I rule that out. Whereas five years ago the call `until the end'
meant blood or revolution, today based on the people's candidacy that
same slogan means a peaceful, constitutional quest for a de jure
presidency. There shall not be blood, and I will not allow it. My
initiative is not an ultimatum to anyone. It is a self-cleansing
process for myself, and the entry to the final decisive stage in the
struggle toward registering the victory of the Armenian people
delivered on February 18.
A.W. - Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People's Party-of
which both the Heritage Party and Republican Party of Armenia are
member organizations-warmly congratulated Sarkisian and praised the
conduct of the elections while shrugging off claims of gross
violations, insisting that he won fair and square. Similar glowing
statements were made by leaders of the Council of Europe and the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), the Armenian
delegation to which includes Heritage Party MPs. In your opinion, why
are relations between those entities and the authorities so cordial to
the extent that they would not take a more objective, diplomatic
stance on the election outcome?
R.H. - What concerns me more is that we - the Armenian people who have
brought democracy, the rule of law and faith in the homeland - are the
masters of our own destiny. Although they [world leaders who have
congratulated Sarkisian] stand against the people of Armenia and the
democratic movement for their own geopolitical concerns and interests
and support the candidacy of a gentleman whose official results as
registered by the Central Election Commission were actually delivered
by fraud, falsification, intimidation, multiple voting, taking
soldiers to the polls, threatening teachers, using hospitals, schools,
town halls and village cultural centers to post campaign materials of
the incumbent president, there clearly is no basis to recognize the
illegitimate official winner of the election. But as someone born in
the U.S. who has been educated on the values of democracy, civil
rights and constitutional law, I can say that these statements from
world leaders fly in the face of their own principles. Armenia is one
of the earliest sources of Western civilization. Let no one sermonize
the Armenian people on democracy because they have delivered on their
own constitution.
A.W. - Some believe that for this movement to have a broader support the
Armenian National Congress has to come on board. What is impeding that
from happening?
R.H. - The Heritage Party and I have always been in favor of
consolidation in all the elections in which we have participated.
Right now I am open to discussing matters with anyone. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan has acknowledged that I indeed won the election, but the
Congress hasn't sought to deepen that relationship.
But what's important is that on February 18 the political model of
Armenia changed. Citizens faced with a boycott of the elections by
many political and civic groups said `no.' I believed in them, they
believed in me, and together we brought victory. At this point it
would be a sign of strength for political parties or civic movements,
whether they participated in the elections or not, to announce that
they are part of this movement. As I've said from the podium, the
Heritage flag has been lowered because the people recognize that after
a long period of labor we are about to deliver the new Armenia, in
which political parties have to play a secondary role. They must know
that no political party can be the pivot for Armenia's future.
Citizens and political parties have to reassess their roles to serve
society. So I don't think it is key that any two organizations come
together. People should understand the gravity of the moment and come
together. The people have spoken and we have to respect that choice.
A.W. - While you continue to protest the presidential election outcome
discussions were held about forming a unified opposition bloc for the
Yerevan municipal elections. Yet the same violations that the
opposition cited will undoubtedly repeat. Why have the municipal
elections become so important while the presidential vote is still
being contested?
R.H. - I wouldn't say they're so important, but I am in favor of
participatory democracy. You can't curse the darkness, you have to
light a candle, and the experience of the last two months demonstrated
very well that by sitting on the sidelines you cannot bring about
change. You have to participate and mobilize. I think the Yerevan
elections are an opportunity not to replace this movement but be an
offshoot of it. We will put together a broad-based list, which I
anticipate will include members from civil organizations and other
political parties, and the mayor and the majority of the city council
will be appointed from that list. We're going to every city and
village that has an election, and we're going to return public service
to the people.
A.W. - What message can you give now to both your staunch critics-those
who believe you have no plan, that your current action is a sign of
desperation and the movement will not get anywhere-and your loyal
supporters based abroad who are genuinely concerned about the
direction in which the movement is headed?
R.H. - I believe in free speech and I respect their opinions. I
sometimes learn a lot from criticism when it's founded and honest, but
when it's based on partisanship and hatred, that is not acceptable to
me. Everything is going according to plan, and the plan belongs to the
Armenian people. What differentiates today from five years ago and
beyond is that this movement is no longer an individual-based quest
for liberty and the presidency. This movement takes on the legacy of
the past, the struggle of the Armenian people over the last 21 years
to have a state that is democratic, rightful and sovereign in pursuit
of its national interests. While I am the elected guide for the
movement, it is not a one-man show and it's greater than Liberty
Square. If you were to travel with me to the villages and cities of
Armenia, to the concerts, theaters, weddings and university squares on
bus rides all around the country, you would see that there is a great
sense of empowerment.
Before he died the poet Yeghishe Charents wrote in his acrostic, `Oh
Armenian people, your salvation is in your collective strength,' and
on election day the people put his message into action by saying `yes'
to Armenia's future. That future is based on a brand new plan that is
not 100 pages long, but in terms of its implementation let it be clear
that I know exactly where I am going. I also know that the Armenian
people will guide me to that final summit.