Grigor Arutjunyan: Resignation of the authorities because of public pressure enables the holding of fair elections

The secretary of the Armenian National Party and member of the Armenian National Congress, Grigor Arutjunyan, told VK about the parliamentary elections of 2012. He believes that the resignation of the authorities due to public pressure is the best opportunity for holding fair elections in Armenia.

- Will the Armenian National Party participate in the parliamentary elections 2012? If yes, in what format?

- We will participate in these elections. However, I cannot tell you in what format, as we do not exclude the possibility of participation within one list of the ANC. Anyway, if Armenia holds the elections, the opposition will have the same result as it had in the last elections.

- Is there any distribution of political forces ahead of the elections?

- I don't think so. I believe that if we don't manage to press for early elections before 2012, the next parliamentary elections won't be elections in fact. The authorities will write a list on which they will divide votes in favor of one or another political force. As for personnel reshuffle in the government of Armenia, they are needed for strengthening of power ahead the elections. That is the main reason, notwithstanding what has been said. In reality, there are no changes for society, as the leaders are the same. There are no systematic changes in Armenia.

- What parties will help the Armenian Republican Party to win?

- First of all, "Orinats erkir" is a party with a negative image. It is not a party, in fact; it is a project by Serge Sargsyan, which he has been implementing since 1999. As for contradictions between the Republicans and "Prosperous Armenia", I don't see any serious background to it. In fear of losing power, they will unite their forces. I think that Serge Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan cannot be opponents, even though their views on some issues may be different.

 

- Do you think that the street protests organized by Tigran Karapetyan were elements of a double game?

- We think the reason for Karapetyan's political activity is the closing of the "ALM" TV-channel. There were many people at the protest meeting, because the people of Armenia don't want to live with the current sad situation in the country. I wouln't say that Karapetyan's activity is a double game. Even though, this opinion exists in our society.

 

- However, Karpetyan stated that he would demand early elections if the authorities did not implement his ultimatum. Don't you think he is ahead of the ANC?

- In fact, Karpetyan stated that if his demands not implemented by February 28, his supporters would demand early elections. However, if the country is not to see normal transparent elections, the situation will worsen and society will remain polarized. Thus, the ANC welcomes any political force which will manage to hold early elections in Armenia.

 

- Today the head of the country is Serge Sargsyan. Do you think, even if the elections are early, they will be fair in this political context?- Early elections are a different situation. The success of early elections is proved by the experience of other countries. In case of the resignation of the authorities, political forces popular in society will gain the fair votes of their people.

- Is there any connection between the foreign and internal policy of Armenia? Is there external pressure on the internal decisions of the government?

- Armenia doesn't provide foreign policy, as our foreign policy interests lie in other regions of the world. Thus, external pressure on the internal policy of Armenia is well-known.

 

Interview by David Stepanyan. Exclusively to VK