The head of the parliamentary fraction, and deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Galust Saakyan commented on the steps taken by the authorities to prevent social protest.
-On March 17, at a meeting, the leader of Armenian National Assembly Levon Ter-Petrosyan voiced questions which can be discussed with the authorities: freedom for political prisoners, right to hold meetings at the Freedom Square and establishing an independent committee on investigation of people death on March 1, 2008. What do you think about talks with the opposition?
- I don’t think such approaches are politically motivated. They cannot lead to positive talks between the government and opposition because of ultimate character. We understand that our country has some particular problems, but we are still stable. This stability can lead to the better social situation in Armenia. We have a lot of implementing and developing projects in this direction.
- Please, comment on the program of the opposition.
- I don’t know anything about any program of the opposition. Its actions seem to be ridiculous and illogic. There are few countries in the world where the representatives of the opposition interfere each other with productive activity. In Armenia the opposition tries only to come to power.
- However, there is basis for the dissatisfied mass of the population. What does the government do to prevent it?
- First of all, I should say the opposition has no such programs. The authorities support agriculture manufacturers. One of primary goals is development of agricultural sector. There is a set of projects implemented in this sphere. Moreover, we adopted the detailed program of Yerevan’s development. Recently the city’s authorities signed an agreement with foreign investors. There are programs on export extension. Progress in Armenian-Iranian economic relations is obvious. Living standards are improved.
- During recent meetings Ter-Petrosyan talked about social problems of Armenia. Previously he mentioned only foreign policy mistakes of the country’s authorities.
- Such “shift of a primary direction” is connected only with demands of the population. Latest meeting of ANA proved it. Everybody forgot that collapse of Armenian economy took place because of implementation of savage capitalism by Ter-Petrosyan’s administration. They provide policy relied on the principle “if you’re drowning, you’re on your own.” The problems of our current economy were founded in that time. I don’t think Ter-Petrosyan’s coming to power is in the population interest. We stated our position on development of Armenia and expect the opposition will do the same.
Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK