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RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan talked with Aravot about the problems of the foreign and home policy

“Mr. Abrahamyan, the most important event of the last months by RA President and coalition was the suspension of the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols in parliament. Your assessment

“It was timely taken, precisely calculated, balanced and dignified step. RA Speakert in his address truly noted that “Our political goals of normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations remain in force, and we’ll observe the issue of going forward, when we get convinced that appropriate atmosphere exists in Turkey, and when we’ll see in Ankara again readiness for normalization of the relations. If the meeting in Washington the Turkish Prime Minister announces that there does not exist appropriate atmosphere for ratifying the Protocols in his country, if the first figures of that country during all this period with stubborn consistency tried to distort the content of the Zurich Protocols, then as NA Speaker, I am surely saying that the step of the Armenian party in the created situation was the only precise and dignified step. And, by the way, I extremely emphasize that the international community precisely assessed the step taken by the Armenian side, which is a witness that during the whole process the Armenian side did not break any agreement or any rule of game. Meanwhile, during the whole period lack of suggestion of preconditions by the political elite of Turkey was not felt, during one year that country did its best to delay the time and leading the process into deadlock. It is understandable that it could not be acceptable for us to make Armenia-Turkey dialogue an aim itself, as it is necessary for us imitation of the process, but an effective process for achieving security and stability in the whole region over the issues of mutual interest through real dialogue and cooperation. I repeatedly said that having stable and peaceful region as we need as much Turkey shall be concerned in it. Meanwhile, Turkey’s dishonest policy and the attempts of stubbornly including preconditions in the process of ratification lead to a deadlock.”

“Nevertheless, high ranking different officials of Turkey in their speeches continue to constantly connect the Armenian-Turkish relations with the settlement of the Karabakh problem.”

“I think that the same high ranking officials of Turkey repeatedly had occasion to be convinced that their inner intention: inter-connect those two processes with each other, they just put Turkey before a deadlock and stalemate, also enjoying the rapid and rather rough assessment of the international community. What obligations assumed Turkey before its friend Azerbaijan it is absolutely not our problem. Armenia fulfilled its obligations in the issue of implementing the protocols, without breaking any agreement and any rule of game, with that the Turkish side should distinctly realize that conditioning the Armenian-Turkish relations by the Karabakh settlement would fail either one or the other one. By the way, the process of the events showed that our adopted approach was right. Its evidence is also the fact that the April 22 decision made by RA President and RA NA majority, to suspend the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols, was perceived with understanding by the super powers, Russia, the USA and France, which recorded that the Turkish side was not ready for the settlement of relations with Armenia without preconditions, i.e. it was distinctly recorded that the only responsible for the suspension of the process was Turkey.”

“Before the previous presidential elections you expressed opinion it will be right that the opposition gathered around Levon Ter-Petrosyan participated in the parliamentary elections and having presence in the parliament it could voice from higher instances its positions before the presidential elections. Now, in case of all-national elections, first NA elections, and later in 2013 the presidential elections. This time are you ready to repeat your assertion too?”

“Absolutely. Any political force, which intends to introduce presidential candidate, should not avoid participating in the parliamentary elections preceding it, certainly, would participate, decide its quota of confidence having among the people, which will enable the given political force to work out both the methods of the political struggle and the ideas being proposed to the society. Later, having a faction in the parliament, it will be understandable that the given political force will have more influential tribune to present its own views and positions to the voter and make them audible. I have constantly said that, and I am repeating that the political processes shall go on the parliament, which shall be an open and public tribune even for the most radical opinions and views. And today the parliament is just such a podium. The streets and squares, I ensure are not the best means and place for the political struggle. Thus, I advise all political forces, which intend to have a role in the Armenian political field to get ready for the next 2012 parliamentary elections and depending on the quota of the people’s confidence decide their place and role in the political field.”

“Do you consider possible the perspective of the extraordinary elections?”

“Serious, inner, foreign political preconditions are necessary for the extraordinary elections. There is no political need for extraordinary elections by the wish or order of one or several political forces. Otherwise, if we move with that logic, then we’ll be in the whirlwind of permanent elections, because, unfortunately, there is no culture among us that the one who loses in the elections will accept the failure with dignity and shake the winner’s hand. Today the inner-political situation is stable, predictable and manageable, and all the processes are in the predictable and stable political developments. The peculiarity of our political life of the last 15 predictable and stable political developments in the framework is that the opposition is stubbornly and consistently getting ready for the extraordinary processes, so, during the next elections, saying in sport terminology “plays lower of its possibilities,” as during the whole process of dreaming extraordinary elections it loses the considerable part of its resources.

“Some analysts assert that in the nearest future in NK issue Armenia is going to make unprecedented one-sided concessions, and just that can become a stimulus of the shift of power. Will you comment on it?”

“The Motherland cannot have price, and I am sorry that some people can make such conclusions. Yes, we care concerned over the peaceful settlement of the NK issue and we have repeatedly noted the format, around which we see the settlement of the issue. NKR international recognition: this we consider the number one problem of the settlement of the conflict, after which we are always ready to negotiate over the remaining issues.”

“Mr. Abrahamyan, the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan speaks about the necessity of fighting against the oligopolies, and in some cases, there is an impression that the parliament in that issue refuses to support the government.”

“I consider myself pragmatic figure, and I am used to speaking not with suppositions, but also with concrete facts. I don’t know in whom such impression has been created, but I have repeatedly said that as NA Speaker I am ready to support the government in the struggle against monopolies. Let the government point out the legislative gaps, which promote the preservation of the monopolies, corruption risks and impede the development of the economy, and we’ll discuss them. If the government finds that nowadays the functioning legislative instruments are not sufficient for fighting against the phenomena impeding the development of the economy as head of the legislative body, and I guarantee that any reasonable initiative will get the support of the National Assembly.”

“In the letters addressed to PACE you sometimes are obliged to play a role of justifying yourself, trying to explain to the Assembly the details of this or that incident, which took place in Yerevan. Are you sincere in your explanations?”

“I’ll say that any statement or assertion made by me is always sincere. And as head of parliament of CE member country I am obliged to present the objective situation and give its objective assessment, which is not at all an excuse. I understand the context of your question: saying that in our country all the problems connected with the human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, of course, will not be sincere and praiseworthy. Naturally, there are problems, which are characteristic to all the countries with forming democracy. However, the important thing, by my assessment, is the will to solve still existing problems. And that there is this will I guarantee. Simply, the everyday consistent and diligent work of all of us is necessary for having more and more democratic country, but not be guided by extreme tactics of denying everything. The parliament implements its work improving our legislation, making it consonant with the rules and norms of democracy, and in that context we closely cooperate with our counterparts of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.”

“Your one expression that in order to become politician sometimes great wit shall not be needed, became a reason of stormy discussions. Did you expect such response?”

“I am glad that what I spoke about became an occasion of such response and discussions. Perhaps, it’s not a secret for anybody that in most cases in the parliament appear people, who were included in the proportional list of the parties by chance or because of any reason. However, their abilities absolutely do not meet for being involved in political activities. And I am repeating we must do our best to have in the next parliaments our lists deprived of people, who don’t know themselves why they are  in the parliament. I am really glad that my word made many people to think. And when the people begin to think time comes for making conclusions. I want to be confident that right conclusions will be made, as everybody shall be involved with his/her work.”

“Sometimes they speak that the relations between you and RA President are to some extent aggravated.”

“I am a member of Serzh Sargsyan’s political team, the chairman of the political committee of the Republican Party. We do common work together for the sake of better and more powerful Armenia. I understand that the working and human relations between RA President and NA Speaker do not give peace to some people. However, that is the reality, and as soon as those, who circulate news, cope with that reality, it will be so good for them to have peace.”

“Regularly people circulate news that you organize a plot that you aim at returning power to Robert Kocharyan. You, as if, did not deny those news.”

“You know, sometimes I have an impression that materials of the same content as if were copied, circulating from one newspaper to another one. Perhaps, the customers' creative mind does not go further from inventing funny theories. I assess my time very preciously for answering to such absurd things.”

“In the press a few times a picture of a half-built construction has been published, which was reminding the building of the National Assembly.”

Yes, I build that house for my big family, and, by the way, I don’t hold an opinion that it resembles the building of the National Assembly. That is a construction being built in classical architectural style.”

Aram Abrahamyan