NOTHING STARTS FROM A BLANK PAGE IN POLITICS

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

In response to our questions, ex-Parliamentarian SPARTAK
SEYRANYAN, Editor-in-Chief of "Yerkir" official organ comments on
the epoch-forming event of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s unexpected meeting
with Dashnaktsutyun.

"In my opinion, all this should be viewed from the angle of the current
political situation and not from the angle of the interrelation among
the political forces that has existed so far. In case of having a
serious approach towards the processes that are taking place or are
going to take place in the country, any political figure or political
force must have a balanced attitude to the fact that two political
factions having extremely polarized political and ideological
approaches, as well as a great number of unsettled issues in their
relations, are able to sit together and agree upon the rules of the
political campaign.

Although, my attitude towards the Armenian pan-National Movement
and Levon Ter-Petrosyan was the same both before and after the
meeting. By accepting him, Dashnaktsutyun proved that it is never
guided by emotional approaches towards political phenomena. We find
that political forces should treat one another as rivals and not as
enemies. In this respect, I don’t think that something extraordinary
or shocking has happened. And if some people were shocked, I don’t
understand it.

After all, serious political processes are in store for us, and it
is very important for the presidential elections not to fall behind
the parliamentary elections in terms of their organizational aspect
and campaign logic. Moreover, it is necessary for them to be a step
forward in comparison with the parliamentary elections. This may
enable the next President of Armenia to be elected as a result of a
correct debate and a civilized campaign vs. mutual accusations and
justifications. Therefore, no one either outside or especially inside
Armenia will have doubts as to the legitimacy of the elections."

"After 10 years of silence, the ex-President repeated the
same bare-face accusations that ‘the system consists of mafia
representatives from top to bottom’ and that it is an imperative task
to ‘disorganize and dismantle it’ ahead of time. Does this kind of
statement conform to the logic of a ‘civilized debate’?"

"What I mean by saying a civilized debate is that instead of discussing
the others’ deeds and failures, the political factions should more
speak about their own ideas, their own deeds and failures and,
what’s mostly important – their future actions. In general, this is
my approach towards a civilized debate.

Besides, during this debate I have to say things with regard to
which I myself have problems. In this respect, I can definitely say
that I disagree with the overwhelming majority of the approaches and
assessments expressed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan during his speech. The
fact that Armenia does not have the most brilliant achievements in
social, economic and democratic processes is clear to all of us.

There is no political faction or political figure saying that
everything is all right in Armenia. On the other hand, however, I
cannot agree to the views that there were no achievements during the
past years, and there are problems all around. Especially considering
that it was not during the recent years that those problems emerged.

Nevertheless, I find that anyone has the right to express his
viewpoint. Levon Ter-Petrosyan should say everything he thinks about,
and we should say everything we think about his statements; this is
the sense of a correct, civilized campaign."

"Does the gentlemen’s agreement on remaining within the frames of a
‘civilized debate’ mean that it is allowed to govern the country
according to the laws of the ‘criminal world’ and, as Mr.

Ter-Petrosyan would say – to disorganize and dismantle the country,
do away with the democratic freedoms and then start everything anew."

"In my deep persuasion, nothing starts from a blank page in
politics. Political processes never start or develop around the issue
whether or not anyone will be nominated, or whether or not this
person will become active. From that point of view, I don’t think
it is possible for anyone to appear on the political arena in that
manner. Moreover, I don’t think anyone will be allowed to return to
politics like that.