Armenian opposition leader says Karabakh peace ideas “in favour of Azerbaijan”
Aravot, Yerevan
12 Apr 06
Excerpt from Margarit Yesayan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on
12 April entitled “To root out the evil is the most important task”
An interview with the leader of Anrapetutyun [Republic] Party, Aram
Sarkisyan.
[Correspondent] Mr Sarkisyan, what do you think of the sale of the
Razdan power plant?
[Aram Sarkisyan] I think that the “Property for Debt” and “Property
for Gas” programmes are in fact addressing a different problem that
may be described as “everything for debt”. Obviously the Armenian
energy security has received one final blow from the authorities. The
problem is not at all about being a vassal of Russia. The problem
regards the state and statehood. We cannot speak about independence
and profitability when the state property is being sold to Russia or
any other state for that matter.
[Passage omitted: reiterates the point]
[Correspondent] So you are against the deal. But what do you suggest,
another revolution?
[Sarkisyan] If there is another option, please suggest. The gas price
will rise, but in three years time. I suppose that one day three years
later we shall find out that a “cheaper” gas price cost us not only
the Razdan power plant but also shares in the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline.
[Passage omitted: Sarkisyan speculates on other possible consequences
of selling property]
[Correspondent] But what is the way out? What does the opposition
suggest?
[Sarkisyan] In our country the authorities consider the opposition
their enemy. Today we can only be against this. But
tomorrow…[ellipses as published]. All I can say is that our party is
drafting a law on nationalization because if there is a law on
denationalization and privatization, there should also be a law on
nationalization to avoid abuses. This law will give an opportunity to
annul all the illegal deals.
[Correspondent] You have put forward your proposal for the Karabakh
issue settlement. Did they reply?
[Sarkisyan] No, they did not. But today’s options for a settlement of
the Karabakh issue are in favour of Azerbaijan. And there is no mutual
compromise. I am sure we shall be able to root out the evil and
produce good results. But if not, Armenians will continue to leave
Armenia. We shall then lose this state and turn into a nation which
will be making toasts on foreign shores. [reference to Armenians
living abroad]
[Correspondent] How will the political field look before the
parliamentary election 2007?
[Sarkisyan] It is too early to speak about this election. That is the
field of the authorities and they are preparing for that election. But
I am sure that it would just be an imitation. Actually the year of
2006 raised serious questions for our country and the region as it is
considered to be a year of the Karabakh issue settlement.
The presidents of the two countries may meet again in May. All the
parties are awaiting the results of that meeting, especially the
ruling party as it does not know what will happen afterwards, what
parties it will unite and whose interests it will support.