Lragir, Armenia
Dec 27 2007

GAGIK TSARUKYAN ABOUT KHACHATUR SUKIASYAN AND HIS VIEWS

In a news conference on December 27 at the Hayeli Club the reporters
asked Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Bargavach Hayastan Party, to
comment on the checking of Khachatur Sukiasyan’s property and the
reaction of other businessmen.

`Sukiasyan Khachik was my partner, and also my friend. I repeat we
have very warm relations. In politics, however, there are two
brothers but each moves in different directions. When I became
involved in politics, Bargavach Hayastan, Sukiasyan could cooperate
with me, because as a businessman, the door was open to businessmen.
I did not want to cooperate with officials, I said businessmen, and
nobody cooperated with me. Khachik Sukiasyan neither. Now Khachik
Sukiasyan has his plan, he wants to implement his plan. I said we are
in the 21st century, and everyone can be involved in politics, with
their programs, people have confidence, he can participate and
benefit a better country and people with his programs. Now if one
insults another, on TV, or in newspapers, the last can do it. But say
a person is aware of his power and must be more respectful. Now they
must work, let them work, explain people their program, their work,
their goal. The elections will show. Today everyone can insult others
through newspapers. But not just anyone can appreciate a person, or
behave in a dignified way,’ Gagik Tsarukyan says.

A businessman, according to him, cannot avoid politics because peace
in his activities depends on politics. `Our factories, production,
motion stops from election to election. They are waiting for the
outcome of elections. The same is with trade, imports, investments,’
Gagik Tsarukyan says, adding that the future of the country always
worries businessmen.

BARGAVACH HAYASTAN LEADER THINKS WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT REPUBLICANS’
CHANCE WOULD BE SMALL

If you did not support Serge Sargsyan, would his chance to win be as
big as now that you support him? The reporters asked this question to
the leader of the Bargavach Hayastan Party Gagik Tsarukyan on
December 27 at the Hayeli Club. `Of course not, it is so clear,’
Gagik Tsarukyan says.

According to him, it is not clear how many people among his voters
will support Serge Sargsyan. As to the likely prime ministers, namely
Yervand Zakharyan and Hovik Abrahamyan, Gagik Tsarukyan says it is a
matter of future. Now they have launched cooperation which they must
finish. Gagik Tsarukyan says he means the presidential election. `The
presidential election must finish, then we will sit down, it depends
who can carry that weight, because afterwards if we say we endorse
the prime minister, the person who must be able to sustain the rate
of development and live up to people’s expectations,’ Gagik Tsarukyan
says.

Why Gagik Tsarukyan is not running in the election, the reporters
asked, especially that very many people like him. `Not anyone has the
right to be a presidential candidate. Three million people live in
our country, everyone should know their importance and it is not
their position, not just anyone should run in the election,’ says the
leader of the Bargavach Hayastan Party.