Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Dec 5 2007

YOU SHOULDN’T GO BEYOND CERTAIN LIMITS

Interview with RPA Deputy Chairman, MP Razmik Zohrabyan

` Mr. Zohrabyan during the hour of MP announcements you came out
with an appeal to demonstrate sensibility. What was the motive?’
` The nomination stage hasn’t come to an end yet, the official
campaign hasn’t yet started, but some political powers and pretenders
to presidency have already expressed ideas that cause deep concern.
For example head of the ex-administration commemorated his return to
the political arena with appeals to dissolve and dismantle the bases
of the state and labeling the government as `chieftains’.
This is the dirtiest and the most extremist method of coming to
power. If you disagree with the ideas and approaches of any
candidate, of course you are free to criticize them. But it is not
decent to fall to the level of personal abuses, something that the
press belonging to Armenian Pan National movement usually does. If
the goal of a person is to lead the country, then it is illogical,
before coming to power, to create threats that damage the security of
the people and the country.
The political powers and candidates that have chosen similar
strategy and tactics, in my view, make a great service to our enemy.
It is not accidental that Turkish and Azerbaijani press is very
enthusiastic about Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s nomination. They evidently
remember the reason of the ex-President’s resignation – his
preferable option of the regulation of Artsakh issue. Here we really
face a danger – to cross the impressible Rubicon and create danger
for our national security.’
‘ Serge Sargsyan’s pre-election headquarter has already convened
its first session. What strategy and tactics have you adopted?’
`We have adopted a strategy of holding democratic, free elections,
in conformity with all the requirements of the law. It is also our
political obligation towards our people and the whole civilized
world. The international observers evaluate every other election in
our country as another step towards democracy. I strongly believe
that the forthcoming elections will be the continuation of this
progress.
Minister of Territorial Administration, deputy Prime Minister
Hovik Abrahamyan will head the Presidential candidate Serge
Sargsyan’s pre-election headquarter belonging to the Republican
Party. RPA Deputy Chairman Galust Sahakyan and leader of RPA
parliamentary faction Karen Karapetyan will be the deputy chiefs. Our
central headquarter has been working for the last one week,
organizing the works of the party structures. All the organizing
structures of the Republican Party, during the whole process of the
campaign will act as the pre-election headquarters of our candidate.’
‘ Are there any presidential candidates, or powers supporting them
whose pre-election activity is not aimed at holding legitimate
elections but rather creating a tensed political atmosphere?’
`There are powers that have started a presidential campaign, which
will never obtain the people’s supreme vote. This means they have no
chance to come to power through elections. These people are well
conscious about this fact. This is the reason why they operate
elaborated election technologies to create an impression that the
government is tyrannical. The only goal is, of course to discredit
the government in power. This will only lead to the unfair solution
of the number one issue – the regulation of Artsakh conflict.
It is not a secret that there are certain political powers in our
political domain, which see the future of NKR as part of Azerbaijan.
They even try to convince Armenian people that only in that case can
Armenia have economic progress. Perhaps it is the existence of these
powers that has strengthened Azerbaijan’s bellicose disposition.
Luckily the supporters of the extremist pro-opposition powers are
very limited. Many pro-opposition powers refuse the before mentioned
attitude of Armenian Pan National Movement. `Orinats Yerkir’,
`National Democratic Union’, `National Union’ strictly criticize the
government in power but meanwhile they deny the policy of dissolving
the state structures and comparing the government with chieftains.

HARUTYUN GEVORGYAN