WHO WANTS TO BECOME MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL TEAM?
Haroutyun Gevorkyan

Hayots Ashkharh, Armenia
Aug 29 2007

Yesterday Paruyr Hayrikyan initiated the regular meeting-consultation
in "Metelitsa" cafe, with the participation of several leaders
representing the pro-Opposition camp. Below we present the names of
the participants invited to the meeting which was appointed at 16:00
p.m. and, according to a preliminary agreement, was to last 2 hours:
Stepan Demirchyan, Head of the Armenian People’s Party, Artashes
Geghamyan, leader of "National Unity" party, Manouk Gasparyan, Head
of the Democratic Path Party, Aram Z. Sargsyan, Chair of the political
council of "Republic" party, Raffi Hovhannisyan, leader of "Heritage"
party, Ashot Manoucharyan, coordinator of socialist factions, Lyudmila
Sargsyan, Head of the Social-Democratic Hncakyan Party and Shavarsh
Kocharyan, Head of the National Democratic Party.

Before the meeting, the correspondent of "Hayots Ashkarh" interviewed
PARUYR HAYRIKYAN, leader of the National Self-Determination Union.

"Mr. Hayrikyan, the first meeting convened in ‘Metelitsa’ cafe by
your initiative gave rise to various interpretations. Whether the
participants’ undisguised pretensions do not serve as an obstacle to
your initiative?"

"After the first meeting, I had some private bi-lateral discussions
with some pro-Opposition political figures. We have also had telephone
communications. Before revealing our expectations, it will first
of all be necessary to introduce some clarifications. The thing is
that if you expect someone to do something, you have, first of all,
to give something.

This is one of my long-standing principles. Therefore, I believe,
it will be proper for me to introduce the comprehensive picture of
the model for the sake of which it is worth for the whole nation to
consolidate. It is the model of making Armenia the most democratic
state of the world. I view the upcoming presidential elections as
an opportunity to realize this goal. As to the proposals by which
democratic or other parties considering themselves democratic will
appear on the political arena, I have no idea about it for the
time being.

Many people are invited to today’s meeting. I have not even taken a
particular interest to find out who will come. The only information
I can give is that one of the well-known figures of the Opposition
(later, we found out that the conversation was about Raffi
Hovhannisyan, P.S.) asked someone else to replace him at the meeting.

Considering the general tendency, I found the participation of his
authorized representative possible.

The principal goal of today’s meeting is to give everybody an
opportunity to express his/her political considerations, views
and ideas and to reveal the generalities prior to the presidential
elections. And I believe that another group participating in the
meeting will, with some considerations, try to spoil the impression of
the most pretentious meetings. Their goal is conceivable for me too,
and today’s meeting will introduce a little clarity in our attitudes."

"Your initiative is already called a ‘meeting of democratic
factions’. Do you agree to that?"

"One of the most important points of my program is to make Armenia
the most democratic country of the world. I believe all the factions
have to think over the following issue: whether it isn’t worth for
us to consolidate for the sake of this goal. For that reason, there
must be a definite program and a team which is prepared to implement
it. I give everybody the opportunity to express his/her opinion.

First, we all must understand once and for all that the greatest
political figures have left their job incomplete. Great people lay
such foundations that enable their job to be continued even after
they are gone. Having the greatest investment in the political life of
Armenia, I realize that it is not obligatory for me to do everything
myself. Today I lay the foundations, i.e. set up a national political
team which will work better than all the other teams existing so
far. If it is a success, it is not essential who the head or the
leader of the group will be. If he/she she wins, that will be the
victory of the team and not of a mortal that is going to be eaten by
worms at the end of time."

P. S. Paruyr Hayrikyan informed us in the evening that the meeting
had taken place. The participants were Artshes Geghamyan, Stepan
Demirtchyan, Arthur Baghdasaryan, the representative of "Heritage"
party, Lyudmila Sargsyan, Shavarsh Kocharyan. As to the Armenian
pan-National Movement, which was going to be represented by Nikol
Pashinyan, Ararat Zourabyan and Petros Makeyan, it hadn’t participated
in the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress