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GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION HASN'T EVER BEEN AS URGENT AS NOW
Roza Hovhannisyan, Reporter
Interview - Tuesday, 11 February 2014, 13:20
Interview with Member of Parliament Khachatur Kokobelyan, chairman
of Free Democrats Party
Mr. Kokobelyan, prices of some goods will be pushed up by membership
to the Customs Union. How will it affect the population of Armenia?
It is obvious that the prices of some goods will soar. A considerable
part of imports is from countries other than Russia. Earlier they
insisted that most imports are from Russia, but if the imports were
from Russia, we would not face inflation, whereas the minister of
economy has already stated that rise in prices will total 140-150
million dollars. It is a rather big number for our small budget. The
prices of petrol, chicken, drugs will go up, to say nothing of cars.
In any country the customs policy is adjusted to the needs of the
economy to boost the development of one branch or another. The
Russian state, I think, is right to impose high fees on cars. But
adopting high customs fees in Armenia means that we do not take into
consideration the need to promote any branch of our economy. I am
sure that the decision on membership to the Customs Union has been
made de facto, and unfortunately, it does not depend on the behavior
of our government, it depends on the wish of the Russian side.
Is it possible that Russia will make a compromise on the issue of
customs fees?
I am not sure about compromise, I am sure there will not be a big
change. Food, fuel, drugs, cars will grow expensive, they are important
spheres. I am worried about one issue. If we are going to be under
Russian dominance, which seems to be a fact, I cannot remember a single
case in history when a dominated state is politically and economically
more developed than a dominant country. Unfortunately, the state of
Russia is deplorable, unfortunately. Leading Armenia towards such a
hazy vision will affect the rate of emigration and other spheres.
The minister of economy says the gas price would grow if we did not
join the Customs Union, triggering 4-4.5% inflation.
In other words, the minister of economy confesses that the gas
was used to coerce us to join the Customs Union. I don't share this
opinion. Armenia could avoid the Customs Union and develop alternative
energy, as well as the gas infrastructure, why not. Similar wrong
decisions resulted in total gas monopoly, and we do not handle our gas
pipeline. Our infrastructures do not allow us to use the Iranian gas
any more. We need to create new infrastructures. I've always said that
gas cannot be an excuse to give away independence and sovereignty. It
is politically short-sighted.
The new Russian legislation made out labor migrants face a problem.
This issue is highly important. Most of our citizens are simply
turned back from the airports of different cities of Russia. They
are seeking employment in Russia and they may be sent back home due
to inconsistent behavior of a border guard. We have received letters
telling that people are told they are unbidden guests. I understand
that this is Russia's internally regulated issue but how about the
role of our government in this process? I asked if the government has
done anything about it, if not, why. I have not received answers to
these questions. Obviously, nothing has been done and nothing special
is going to be done. It is encouraged to cut down emigration but it
is not a solution, it is a matter of dignity of our citizens. It is
repeatedly stated that membership to the Customs Union is related to
security but our government must realize that security starts with
the physical security of a citizen and ends with state security. The
rights of our citizens are infringed, let alone their security.
Do you think the parliamentary majority will adopt a decision on
setting up an ad-hoc committee on the suspicious gas deals?
We need not cherish hopes. Moreover, the political majority will
not take that step. We have a non-positive experience relating to
ad-hoc committees. I cannot remember a single ad-hoc committee, such
as the committee on March 1 that submitted a full, reliable, true
and acceptable opinion. The members of parliament joke that the best
way for covering up an issue is to set up an ad hoc committee. Gas
is a special issue, and I think that the political majority did not
have the courage to set up that committee because they do not need
to protract the issue and keep it on the agenda. They are afraid
of revelations or certain issues. The political majority and the
political forces facing Russia do not need to keep the topic hot.
The non-governmental forces hinted that they may raise the issue of
resignation of the parliament in the next session.
I am not well-aware of who will raise the issue and who will not but
in the end we will learn the wishes of everyone and what is going on.
And I do not understand the need to relay it to the Constitutional
Court again. I am sure the Constitutional Court will dismiss it,
and it is not an effective way of struggling against I don't know what.
Not something but specific people and a specific government must
be challenged.
Why did Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan hint at setting up an ad-hoc
committee?
Frankly speaking, I don't know the context but I believe that the
representatives of the majority, including Hovik Abrahamyan, will
act as the political majority will say. It is normal when the members
of a force carry out the decisions of the force but it is not normal
not to have different opinions.
Everything is simple. Don't you believe that Gazprom is more important
for the Russian state than the independence of Armenia? It follows
from this how our government and Constitutional Court will behave.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/31902#sthash.2KH3RqjP.dpuf
Roza Hovhannisyan, Reporter
Interview - Tuesday, 11 February 2014, 13:20
Interview with Member of Parliament Khachatur Kokobelyan, chairman
of Free Democrats Party
Mr. Kokobelyan, prices of some goods will be pushed up by membership
to the Customs Union. How will it affect the population of Armenia?
It is obvious that the prices of some goods will soar. A considerable
part of imports is from countries other than Russia. Earlier they
insisted that most imports are from Russia, but if the imports were
from Russia, we would not face inflation, whereas the minister of
economy has already stated that rise in prices will total 140-150
million dollars. It is a rather big number for our small budget. The
prices of petrol, chicken, drugs will go up, to say nothing of cars.
In any country the customs policy is adjusted to the needs of the
economy to boost the development of one branch or another. The
Russian state, I think, is right to impose high fees on cars. But
adopting high customs fees in Armenia means that we do not take into
consideration the need to promote any branch of our economy. I am
sure that the decision on membership to the Customs Union has been
made de facto, and unfortunately, it does not depend on the behavior
of our government, it depends on the wish of the Russian side.
Is it possible that Russia will make a compromise on the issue of
customs fees?
I am not sure about compromise, I am sure there will not be a big
change. Food, fuel, drugs, cars will grow expensive, they are important
spheres. I am worried about one issue. If we are going to be under
Russian dominance, which seems to be a fact, I cannot remember a single
case in history when a dominated state is politically and economically
more developed than a dominant country. Unfortunately, the state of
Russia is deplorable, unfortunately. Leading Armenia towards such a
hazy vision will affect the rate of emigration and other spheres.
The minister of economy says the gas price would grow if we did not
join the Customs Union, triggering 4-4.5% inflation.
In other words, the minister of economy confesses that the gas
was used to coerce us to join the Customs Union. I don't share this
opinion. Armenia could avoid the Customs Union and develop alternative
energy, as well as the gas infrastructure, why not. Similar wrong
decisions resulted in total gas monopoly, and we do not handle our gas
pipeline. Our infrastructures do not allow us to use the Iranian gas
any more. We need to create new infrastructures. I've always said that
gas cannot be an excuse to give away independence and sovereignty. It
is politically short-sighted.
The new Russian legislation made out labor migrants face a problem.
This issue is highly important. Most of our citizens are simply
turned back from the airports of different cities of Russia. They
are seeking employment in Russia and they may be sent back home due
to inconsistent behavior of a border guard. We have received letters
telling that people are told they are unbidden guests. I understand
that this is Russia's internally regulated issue but how about the
role of our government in this process? I asked if the government has
done anything about it, if not, why. I have not received answers to
these questions. Obviously, nothing has been done and nothing special
is going to be done. It is encouraged to cut down emigration but it
is not a solution, it is a matter of dignity of our citizens. It is
repeatedly stated that membership to the Customs Union is related to
security but our government must realize that security starts with
the physical security of a citizen and ends with state security. The
rights of our citizens are infringed, let alone their security.
Do you think the parliamentary majority will adopt a decision on
setting up an ad-hoc committee on the suspicious gas deals?
We need not cherish hopes. Moreover, the political majority will
not take that step. We have a non-positive experience relating to
ad-hoc committees. I cannot remember a single ad-hoc committee, such
as the committee on March 1 that submitted a full, reliable, true
and acceptable opinion. The members of parliament joke that the best
way for covering up an issue is to set up an ad hoc committee. Gas
is a special issue, and I think that the political majority did not
have the courage to set up that committee because they do not need
to protract the issue and keep it on the agenda. They are afraid
of revelations or certain issues. The political majority and the
political forces facing Russia do not need to keep the topic hot.
The non-governmental forces hinted that they may raise the issue of
resignation of the parliament in the next session.
I am not well-aware of who will raise the issue and who will not but
in the end we will learn the wishes of everyone and what is going on.
And I do not understand the need to relay it to the Constitutional
Court again. I am sure the Constitutional Court will dismiss it,
and it is not an effective way of struggling against I don't know what.
Not something but specific people and a specific government must
be challenged.
Why did Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan hint at setting up an ad-hoc
committee?
Frankly speaking, I don't know the context but I believe that the
representatives of the majority, including Hovik Abrahamyan, will
act as the political majority will say. It is normal when the members
of a force carry out the decisions of the force but it is not normal
not to have different opinions.
Everything is simple. Don't you believe that Gazprom is more important
for the Russian state than the independence of Armenia? It follows
from this how our government and Constitutional Court will behave.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/31902#sthash.2KH3RqjP.dpuf