Aram Manykyan: “The way out is the dismissal of the Armenian government”

Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

2013 was marked by a series of unpopular decisions by the Armenian leadership. An attempt to raise public transport ticket prices; a shady story over accumulated gas debts; gas prices increase for the population, as well as electricity power prices and the forced launching of the Defined Contribution Pension System – all these factors almost led to a social explosion. Aram Manykyan, the secretary of the parliamentary fraction the Armenian National Congress, told Vestnik Kavkaza about reasons for tightening the screws by the authorities and relations between Yerevan and global power centers.

-          Will the policy of tightening the screws continue in 2014?

-          The authorities are aware of the real situation in the country. The Republicans realize that Europe won’t give them money anymore, while Moscow and Tehran do not trust them. Therefore, as they don’t expect foreign investments, they try to compensate them internally to stay in power. They not only have no opportunities to create new jobs and establish favorable conditions for business, but also have no intention to do it. And so, they bully their own population and get money to save power. The falsified presidential elections of 2013 led to disappointment in the Armenian society and a new wave of migration from Armenia. 30 per cent poverty level is a result of the policy of increasing tax burden without creating new jobs.

-          Some circles in Armenia accuse Russia of the gas prices boost. Why are debts of the private company Arm Rosgazprom paid by the state, rather than the company which sells gas which costs $189 to consumers for almost $400?

-          The company doubles gas prices from the border to Yerevan. Despite such revenues, ArmRosgazprom states that it closed the year in the red. In 2012 the company owed $160 million for no obvious reason. And the debts of a private company which should get super-profits were imposed on the state, people who regularly pay $400 for gas. The State Prosecution should find out who gets the super-profit.

Our authorities haven’t paid the full price for consumable gas for three years, fobbing Russia off with promises to pay the shortfall by state property or the state budget. But the budget doesn’t require such expenditures. Today Tigran Sarkisyan gave Russia the last 20% of ArmRosgazprom and we can only guess what he will give it in the future. As a result, Moscow doesn’t consider Yerevan as an equal partner.

-          How did the rejection of the signing the association agreement with the EU and the intention to join the Customs Union instead influence the image of the Armenian authorities in the world?

-          It inluenced very negatively. A vector of internal policy was determined by interests of a group of people, and it led to the worst consequences for Armenia at the foreign political arena. The society didn’t get an answer to the question why the country had moved toward the EU for years, but one day it declared about joining the CU. As the result Armenia itself stopped being a factor in its own foreign policy.

A desire to be a CU member, the rejection of initialing of the agreement with the EU, unclear policy aimed at approaching Turkey have no signs of any concept. All these decisions are not a result of a political will. Armenia lost trust of the West, Russia, and Iran. If membership in the CU was an initiative based on real interests of Armenia, it would be a bright example of cooperation with Russia. However, our authorities decided to join the CU only because of their mistakes in the past.

-          What about Europe?

-          The problem could be solved under skilful management. Surprisingly, the question on European or Eurasian integration resembles a choice between black and white in Armenia. We had to continue the policy which would combine American support, European democracy, and Russian security. It was possible as we had many friendly states. Today we lost them and those who are guilty live in our country.

-          What is your vision of the way out?

-          The immediate civilized dismissal of the government can lead Armenia from the deadend.