Many experts agree that Armenia’s current problems, including social, economic and judicial ones are linked with the two-year old post-election processes. The spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and secretary of the parliamentary group of the same name, Eduard Sharmazanov, answers the VK’s questions.
- There are different opinions on the political crisis in the country. Do you think this crisis has been overcome?
- Many times I have expressed my and the RPA’s opinion that there is no political crisis in Armenia. Political crises happen in countries where there is a revolutionary situation. Fortunately, there is no revolutionary situation in Armenia. The political crisis which came after the events on March 1st has been overcome, it does not exist any more. As a result of the efforts made by the president and the ruling coalition we have stability in Armenia now.
- What were the president and the ruling party’s steps to establish stability?
- First of all, the creation of the Public Council involved many different political parties and non-governmental organizations successfully working in many spheres. The second is the consultations with political parties. The third is that president Serzh Sargsyan is working openly and has stated many times that there are problems in the country. He has expressed his readiness to listen to his political opponents many times. The most important thing is that the officials see the problems; they are not hiding their heads in the sand and saying everything’s fine.
- Last year’s amnesty saw the release of many political prisoners. But there are still 14 political prisoners in detention, and international human rights organizations are demanding their release. How can this question be resolved?
- I do not think there are any political prisoners in Armenia. Those people were arrested after the events of March 1st. As for the question, I think the president made a humane gesture when he announced the amnesty.
- So is there a problem of 14 political prisoners?
- I am a politician, and this question is not political, but legal. There is a court, which made its decision.
- How do you assess the current social and economic situation and ways out of it?
- 5, 5% economic growth has already been registered in the country. The economic situation is improving step by step. I think Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan and his team will do everything possible to increase economic growth.
- Meanwhile the monopolies are still the main problem of the Armenian economy.
- The Prime Minister also admits there are monopolies and oligopolies. He has repeated more than once that we need to conduct effective an policy to develop small and medium-sized enterprises.
- You once said that Turkey’s position froze Armenian and Turkish dialogue. Will this process continue?
- Theoretically, anything is possible. Our position is very clear. To provide long-term stability and security in the region we need to have normal relations between Armenia and Turkey. The first step was the ratification of the protocols without preconditions, which were signed in Zürich. There is no alternative to this. Any preconditions are not acceptable to us. Armenia will never make any concessions in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem unilaterally. Unfortunately, Turkey did not understand or did not want to understand this.
- The authorities and the opposition have a striking consensus, saying that events such as those in Kyrgyzstan are impossible in Armenia. What do you think about this?
- My line of argument is clear. There is no revolutionary situation in Armenia, so there is no political crisis. I do not want to comment on Bakiyev’s conduct, but according to the opposition he usurped power and appointed his relatives to all the important positions. There is nothing similar to this in Armenia. We support coordination between
the authorities and the opposition. The opposition and the authorities must understand that a revolutionary path means the collapse of Armenia. We do not need any rebellions.
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK.
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