The NA Speaker ensures that the authorities do not want to worsen the relations with the Council of Europe. Interview with the NA Speaker Mr Hovik Abrahamyan
“What aim had your visit to China and what problem was solved with that?”
“The invitation had been beforehand, still during the office of the previous NA Speaker. In general, I consider effective the visit. First of all, the parliament of China has not ever signed a memorandum with the parliament of any country, but they signed with us. Of course, we reached that with difficulty. In the memorandum clauses were enshrined that we should make closer our relations and develop them. In general, I also highly appreciate their very warm, active and practical attitude towards our state. Of course, a lot of resources are not used in the sphere of economy. But they also want to cooperate with Armenia. We also asked 1m dollars aid in connection with this financial crisis for the solution of the problems. The Speaker of the Parliament Mr Wu Bangguo promised to mediate the first Deputy Prime Minister. As a result of the meeting and discussion I understood that despite the hardships there was possibility that they would help Armenia. The Deputy Prime Minister said that in the conditions of the existence of the letter he would assign the heads of the relevant institution to discuss it. They are powerful country, and they should always help the small countries. I am sure that they have wish to help us, and if we work normally, that issue would be certainly solved.”
“What does it mean to work normally?”
“If we work in a right way, in the professional aspect that issue would be certainly solved. If they would not solve it they would immediately say that it was not possible, and our situation was hard. Once again I would like to record that we should activate our relationships with China.”
“As you were in China the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe discussed in Paris the rough report prepared towards Armenia. Do you know about that?”
“Of course, I know what happened: it does not matter where I am. Meanwhile, we have worked with our delegation. Armenia does everything in order to have the proposals, which are made by the Council of Europe, will be implemented. Simply, here we should observe the problem in other subtext. They want the detained to be released now. But as we have judicial procedure, it will be right that we would wait one or two months in order to have that procedure completed. You all know that the President granted pardon to some people, who applied for that. In my opinion, for political views nobody is in prison till now.”
“You insisted on this after all this, when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recorded that reality?”
“Yes. They gave time that they will refer to this issue again till January 14-15. All of you know that from the end of September the case is over, the men try to get introduced with the essence of the case through their lawyers. We could have already carried out the trial 3 months ago and made decision. In my opinion, there exist also artificial delays. That is invented, and people try to keep tension in some way by delaying. I would like to record once again that we couldn’t condemn or detain anybody for political views.”
“In fact, have you insisted that many of your former friends are criminals?”
“In what respect?”
“If you don’t consider them political prisoners, you really think that they are criminals. Is it so?”
“You know that you and me are not those who decide who are the criminals. For that there is a court, the court will decide. We simply cannot give assessments, and I will abstain. I would like to say that nobody should be condemned without any reason or for political views. The authorities’ position is this. If the man has not committed any crime, he would not be judged, and if he committed it, naturally, he would be judged.”
“Do you believe in the system administering the justice of Armenia? Is it able to administer real justice?”
“Believing, of course, is a relative understanding. You should say, do you trust or not? In any case our judicial system, if I say is established by 100%, will not be right. We must have time for that, reforms. However, in any case, today I have also no grounds not to trust. I want you to record that if anybody gets into prison or not, nothing gets changed. It will be right if we make the just decision, the court makes the just decision, and people who made a little mistake, or have been condemned, be released, go and be engaged with their work. We don’t have concern to release or keep in prison anybody. If they are not criminals, let them go and be engaged with their work.”
“And what forecasts do you have in connection with the PACE January session?”
“I am sure that we try to do everything in order to be in line with democratic countries. We don’t want to worsen our relations with the Council of Europe but we cannot but take account the interests of our state.”
“The interests of the state suppose that the people, who took part seriously in the liberation struggle of Artsakh, would appear behind the bars? Would they?”
“And you suppose that the freedom fighters can do whatever they want?”
“No. But in this case everybody knows, including you, what is the reality.”
“For example, who do you ask about?”
“Hakob Hakobyan, Sasun Mikayelyan…”
“But do you know what decision will make the court in the case of Hakob Hakobyan, Sasun Mikayelyan?”
“I don’t know, but the procedure of the pre-examination does not speak about anything good. I have personally followed their actions and have seen that they have not committed any crime.”
“I would like to ensure you that nobody is inclined to judge obligatory anybody. During the judicial procedure it will be felt. If the grounds of the charge will be weak in the court, the court will not bring a verdict.”
“You want to say that everything will be done in order the PACE Armenian delegation would not be deprived of the right of voting?”
“No, no, it won’t be reached to that point. I will say you one more thing. The opposition delays the judicial procedure. It is likely that now people will be out of prison.”
“With what steps the opposition delays it?”
“The case has been sent to court, and they get familiarized with it for 3 months.”
“Do you speak about 40-volume criminal case?”
“But they can get introduced with it during the procedure. Let them go and get familairized with it during the trial. In my opinion, there exists also an artificial thing. I hope that nobody will be judged unjustly, and everything will be ok.
Interviewed Taguhi Tovmasyna
Chorrord Ishkhanutiun
