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KOCHARYAN RESPONSIBLE FOR 'PROPERTY FOR DEBT' PROGRAM - OPINIONS
11:48 ~U 14.01.14
Robert Kocharyan's recent interviews, expressing criticism of the
incumbent authorities, have received various interpretations by public
and political figures.
Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly's Vanadzor Office Artur
Sakunts finds the second president's remarks absolutely pointless,
saying that the "Property for Debt" program, which the Armenian
government launched during his tenure, was his own idea, not the
Russian government's.
The opposition Heritage party's political secretary, Styopa Safaryan,
refrains from characterizing Kocharyan's statements as a bid for a
government change, whereas Vardan Khachatryan, a former parliament
member, says he does not find anything strange about the public
debates which Kocharyan's recent statements have sparked.
Speaking to Tert.am, Sakunts blamed the second president for the
"Property for Debt" program, noting that it wasn't proposed by the
Russian side as Kocharyan himself claimed when in office.
In his Monday interview, Kocharyan criticized the government for the
sale of the Armrusgasprom company's remaining shares (20%) to Russia.
He described the agreement on giving the country an exclusive right to
manage Armenia's gas supply until 2043 as an extremely vulnerable deal.
Commenting on the second president's statements, Sakunts said he
doesn't find them meaningful. The main challenge, in his words,
has to do with Armenia's accession to the Russian-led Customs Union,
not the 'gas agreements'.
"[President] Serzh Sargsyan's position on the Customs Union membership
is that he never actually addresses the topic, continuing to observe
silence," he said.
Asked whether he finds Kocharyan's recent interviews as an attempt
of a political comeback, the rights activist said, "Kocharyan had
better keep silence. I don't think it is worth giving attention to
any issue regarding Kocharyan or his statements about the economic
policies. Our society has one question to ask; and not only ask but
also demand responsibility for the crimes committed during the March
1 [2008 post election violence] and the October 27 [1999 terrorist
act in parliament]. But for me personally, the former question is of
primary importance," he explained.
The Heritage political secretary, for his part, described Kocharyan's
statement as just a "message" demanding the prime minister's
replacement.
"This is the main conflict which, by the way, is quite manageable,
as none of the sides stepped beyond ethical boundaries," he said.
In his comments, Khachatryan also agreed that Kocharyan's interviews
and the prime minister's subsequent remarks are a common public debate
not reflecting a serious conflict.
"As to whether or not this is a bid for returning to politics ... I
don't want to consider so because such a bid has to be in-depth and
positive. It has to be based on a positive public support," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/01/14/qocharyan/
11:48 ~U 14.01.14
Robert Kocharyan's recent interviews, expressing criticism of the
incumbent authorities, have received various interpretations by public
and political figures.
Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly's Vanadzor Office Artur
Sakunts finds the second president's remarks absolutely pointless,
saying that the "Property for Debt" program, which the Armenian
government launched during his tenure, was his own idea, not the
Russian government's.
The opposition Heritage party's political secretary, Styopa Safaryan,
refrains from characterizing Kocharyan's statements as a bid for a
government change, whereas Vardan Khachatryan, a former parliament
member, says he does not find anything strange about the public
debates which Kocharyan's recent statements have sparked.
Speaking to Tert.am, Sakunts blamed the second president for the
"Property for Debt" program, noting that it wasn't proposed by the
Russian side as Kocharyan himself claimed when in office.
In his Monday interview, Kocharyan criticized the government for the
sale of the Armrusgasprom company's remaining shares (20%) to Russia.
He described the agreement on giving the country an exclusive right to
manage Armenia's gas supply until 2043 as an extremely vulnerable deal.
Commenting on the second president's statements, Sakunts said he
doesn't find them meaningful. The main challenge, in his words,
has to do with Armenia's accession to the Russian-led Customs Union,
not the 'gas agreements'.
"[President] Serzh Sargsyan's position on the Customs Union membership
is that he never actually addresses the topic, continuing to observe
silence," he said.
Asked whether he finds Kocharyan's recent interviews as an attempt
of a political comeback, the rights activist said, "Kocharyan had
better keep silence. I don't think it is worth giving attention to
any issue regarding Kocharyan or his statements about the economic
policies. Our society has one question to ask; and not only ask but
also demand responsibility for the crimes committed during the March
1 [2008 post election violence] and the October 27 [1999 terrorist
act in parliament]. But for me personally, the former question is of
primary importance," he explained.
The Heritage political secretary, for his part, described Kocharyan's
statement as just a "message" demanding the prime minister's
replacement.
"This is the main conflict which, by the way, is quite manageable,
as none of the sides stepped beyond ethical boundaries," he said.
In his comments, Khachatryan also agreed that Kocharyan's interviews
and the prime minister's subsequent remarks are a common public debate
not reflecting a serious conflict.
"As to whether or not this is a bid for returning to politics ... I
don't want to consider so because such a bid has to be in-depth and
positive. It has to be based on a positive public support," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/01/14/qocharyan/