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Sargis Hatspanyan: When it comes to the change of regime in Armenia,
the West washes hands of it
ArmInfo News Agency's interview with Artsakh war hero, analyst Sargis Hatspanyan
by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, March 22, 13:56
Mr.Hatspanyan, how would you assess the ongoing developments in
Armenia? What can you say about the threats and challenges?
The root of almost all the problems in Armenia is the anti-state,
anti-Armenian core of the incumbent regime. The regime is based on the
National Security Service, which, in fact, seriously threatens our
country's security; the Police, which, in fact, has nothing to do with
defending the citizens' interests; and the State Revenue Committee,
which resembles the collectors of the Ottoman Empire's time. Serzh
Sargsyan knows that was elected illegitimately. I think the only
solution would be Serzh Sargsyan's removal from power. Today Armenia's
major problem caused by Serzh Sargsyan's regime is the intensive
outflow of the population. The removal of Serzh Sargsyan and his team
from power is the only guaranteed way to stop the migration.
Who of the politicians do you think is able to solve this problem?
We need system changes. I am confident that neither Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, nor Gagik Tsarukyan or Raffi Hovannisian can take the
country out of the crisis. If we put any of them in Serzh Sargsyan's
place, they will conduct a similar policy as they have been exhausted.
All of them are an integral part of the political system in Armenia,
which has gone bad. It is not accidental that no presidential
elections in Armenia but the one held in 1991 resulted in the regime
change. And if elections do not result in regime change, it means that
this problem cannot be settled politically. We need a strong civic
movement. Fortunately, establishment of such a movement is becoming
reality. The available packets of resistance, i.e. the developments in
the Mashtots Park, the protest against construction of the high-class
buildings in Komitas Street, the fight against the compulsory
component of the accumulative pension system may turn into a kind of
maidan in Armenia. I think this is a very much possible scenario. Any
small case may lead to escalation of tension. The social unrest in
Armenia is growing day by day.
Do you think the four non-coalition forces of the Armenian Parliament
will be able to change the power in the country?
I think after the March 2008 events the society was disappointed with
the political force headed by the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. Ter-Petrosyan had no right to "fraternize" with a man,
who took a direct part in the March 2008 slaughter. There are many
proofs of the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan's bodyguards were given the
needed armament. There were numerous publications about that in the
mass media. The Prosperous Armenia Party has always been Robert
Kocharyan's apple of the eye, which steeped hands in blood of the 10
victims. Only a man far from politics or a crazy man or a swindler can
take Gagik Tsarukyan as a politician, and imagine him as a bearer of
any high ideas. I think that Ter-Petrosyan understands very well who
Tsarukyan is. He said in 2008 that if Tsarukyan broke his ties with
the authorities just for a minute, he would turn into a dosser. In the
conditions of concrescence of big business and the authorities, of the
total control of the power over the big business, the revolt of one of
the biggest representatives of the big business against the
authorities may have unpredictable consequences for him. One can
notice slight hints on it in the statements by "ordinary" members of
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. And the number one oligarch
understands that very well. Today's changing of Ter-Petrosyan's
position is a result of his powerlessness.
At the 1 March 2014 rally, Ter-Petrosyan said that Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union is an irreversible fact. What kind of message was
that?
I think Ter-Petrosyan meant that he would serve the Kremlin better
that Serzh Tsarukyan. If you remember, he said that Serzh Sargsyan is
unable to use the Customs Union opportunities in Armenia's interests
as effectively as possible. This was a direct proposal to Moscow to
make use of Ter-Petrosyan's services. The question is whether the
Kremlin will take into account his assurances or not.
What about the accession to the Customs Union?
I am totally against that decision of Yerevan. The Customs Union does
not look promising for Armenia, it will result in both economic and
demographic losses of Armenia. Armenia should participate in no
integration project given its geographic location at least. We need a
balanced foreign policy. I seriously doubt about the true wish and
ability of the West to help Armenia to settle its problems. Everybody
remembers how enthusiastically the western leaders and heads of
European structures were congratulating president Serzh Sargsyan
reelected as a result of the rigged election last year. Last year's
election showed the true face of the Western champions of democracy.
The Western community has always supported the authorities of Armenia,
but not its citizens. And the latest statement by the US ambassador to
Armenia, who supported the pension reform, is the evidence of that.
The West needs weak and controlled Armenia. Why didn't they support
the pan-national movement in Armenia in March 2008? But they supported
the Kiev Maidan. Here we have again come across the so-called dual
standards of the West. They can support the anti-Russian Maidan, but
when it comes to the overthrow of the criminal regime in Armenia,
Europe washes hands of it.
Radical changes in the political system of a number of post-Soviet
countries led to the loss of territories. Mikheil Saakashvili's
Georgia lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Ukraine lost Crimea as a
result of Euromaidan. May Armenia experience a maidan given the
unresolved Karabakh conflict?
Of course, there is some threat. But one should not turn the Karabakh
conflict into a carte blanche in the authorities' hands. The conflict
should not justify the unlawful acts committed by Serzh Sargsyan's
regime. The Azeri army should by no means be compared with the
Armenian one in terms of combat effectiveness. An ordinary Armenian
detachment will offer rebuff to any Azeri subversive group, we saw
that during the January sabotage attack of Azerbaijan. In addition,
one should not forget the ability of our society to promptly join
forces against the foreign enemy. Turkey cannot threaten our border
either, because the border is defended by the Russian armed forces.
The only problem we may face in case of shift in power is the lack of
skilled personnel. Any revolution comes across such a problem, but in
the course of time the problem finds its solution.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid©3DB1C0-B1B0-11E3-B29B0EB7C0D21663
From: A. Papazian
the West washes hands of it
ArmInfo News Agency's interview with Artsakh war hero, analyst Sargis Hatspanyan
by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, March 22, 13:56
Mr.Hatspanyan, how would you assess the ongoing developments in
Armenia? What can you say about the threats and challenges?
The root of almost all the problems in Armenia is the anti-state,
anti-Armenian core of the incumbent regime. The regime is based on the
National Security Service, which, in fact, seriously threatens our
country's security; the Police, which, in fact, has nothing to do with
defending the citizens' interests; and the State Revenue Committee,
which resembles the collectors of the Ottoman Empire's time. Serzh
Sargsyan knows that was elected illegitimately. I think the only
solution would be Serzh Sargsyan's removal from power. Today Armenia's
major problem caused by Serzh Sargsyan's regime is the intensive
outflow of the population. The removal of Serzh Sargsyan and his team
from power is the only guaranteed way to stop the migration.
Who of the politicians do you think is able to solve this problem?
We need system changes. I am confident that neither Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, nor Gagik Tsarukyan or Raffi Hovannisian can take the
country out of the crisis. If we put any of them in Serzh Sargsyan's
place, they will conduct a similar policy as they have been exhausted.
All of them are an integral part of the political system in Armenia,
which has gone bad. It is not accidental that no presidential
elections in Armenia but the one held in 1991 resulted in the regime
change. And if elections do not result in regime change, it means that
this problem cannot be settled politically. We need a strong civic
movement. Fortunately, establishment of such a movement is becoming
reality. The available packets of resistance, i.e. the developments in
the Mashtots Park, the protest against construction of the high-class
buildings in Komitas Street, the fight against the compulsory
component of the accumulative pension system may turn into a kind of
maidan in Armenia. I think this is a very much possible scenario. Any
small case may lead to escalation of tension. The social unrest in
Armenia is growing day by day.
Do you think the four non-coalition forces of the Armenian Parliament
will be able to change the power in the country?
I think after the March 2008 events the society was disappointed with
the political force headed by the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. Ter-Petrosyan had no right to "fraternize" with a man,
who took a direct part in the March 2008 slaughter. There are many
proofs of the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan's bodyguards were given the
needed armament. There were numerous publications about that in the
mass media. The Prosperous Armenia Party has always been Robert
Kocharyan's apple of the eye, which steeped hands in blood of the 10
victims. Only a man far from politics or a crazy man or a swindler can
take Gagik Tsarukyan as a politician, and imagine him as a bearer of
any high ideas. I think that Ter-Petrosyan understands very well who
Tsarukyan is. He said in 2008 that if Tsarukyan broke his ties with
the authorities just for a minute, he would turn into a dosser. In the
conditions of concrescence of big business and the authorities, of the
total control of the power over the big business, the revolt of one of
the biggest representatives of the big business against the
authorities may have unpredictable consequences for him. One can
notice slight hints on it in the statements by "ordinary" members of
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. And the number one oligarch
understands that very well. Today's changing of Ter-Petrosyan's
position is a result of his powerlessness.
At the 1 March 2014 rally, Ter-Petrosyan said that Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union is an irreversible fact. What kind of message was
that?
I think Ter-Petrosyan meant that he would serve the Kremlin better
that Serzh Tsarukyan. If you remember, he said that Serzh Sargsyan is
unable to use the Customs Union opportunities in Armenia's interests
as effectively as possible. This was a direct proposal to Moscow to
make use of Ter-Petrosyan's services. The question is whether the
Kremlin will take into account his assurances or not.
What about the accession to the Customs Union?
I am totally against that decision of Yerevan. The Customs Union does
not look promising for Armenia, it will result in both economic and
demographic losses of Armenia. Armenia should participate in no
integration project given its geographic location at least. We need a
balanced foreign policy. I seriously doubt about the true wish and
ability of the West to help Armenia to settle its problems. Everybody
remembers how enthusiastically the western leaders and heads of
European structures were congratulating president Serzh Sargsyan
reelected as a result of the rigged election last year. Last year's
election showed the true face of the Western champions of democracy.
The Western community has always supported the authorities of Armenia,
but not its citizens. And the latest statement by the US ambassador to
Armenia, who supported the pension reform, is the evidence of that.
The West needs weak and controlled Armenia. Why didn't they support
the pan-national movement in Armenia in March 2008? But they supported
the Kiev Maidan. Here we have again come across the so-called dual
standards of the West. They can support the anti-Russian Maidan, but
when it comes to the overthrow of the criminal regime in Armenia,
Europe washes hands of it.
Radical changes in the political system of a number of post-Soviet
countries led to the loss of territories. Mikheil Saakashvili's
Georgia lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Ukraine lost Crimea as a
result of Euromaidan. May Armenia experience a maidan given the
unresolved Karabakh conflict?
Of course, there is some threat. But one should not turn the Karabakh
conflict into a carte blanche in the authorities' hands. The conflict
should not justify the unlawful acts committed by Serzh Sargsyan's
regime. The Azeri army should by no means be compared with the
Armenian one in terms of combat effectiveness. An ordinary Armenian
detachment will offer rebuff to any Azeri subversive group, we saw
that during the January sabotage attack of Azerbaijan. In addition,
one should not forget the ability of our society to promptly join
forces against the foreign enemy. Turkey cannot threaten our border
either, because the border is defended by the Russian armed forces.
The only problem we may face in case of shift in power is the lack of
skilled personnel. Any revolution comes across such a problem, but in
the course of time the problem finds its solution.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid©3DB1C0-B1B0-11E3-B29B0EB7C0D21663
From: A. Papazian