WHAT WE NEED IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 21, 2008
Armenia

To Be Discussed Around A Table

As we know leader of "Heritage" party Raffi Hovhannisyan appeared with
a mediation mission, to set up government-opposition dialogue. He
invited the leaders of the coalition parties, including President
Serge Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan for a "vital discussion".

"What is the sense of looking for a new format of a dialogue, in
case when the committee established by the decree of the President
has already taken concrete steps to settle the problems enshrined in
PACE resolution?

What is it that prevents Raffi Hovhannisyan from realizing his
anticipations in the framework of the existing format? Nevertheless
he is already involved in that process, by his participation in the
consultation held in the Presidential residence." Below we introduce
Raffi Hovhannisyan’s observations regarding the before mentioned
questions.

"It is very important to compare all the conceptual proposals on the
table and find the best one, instead of waiting for instructions from
Strasburg. In my view during the weeks to come, we must initiate the
process of this dialogue, based on the interests of our state. I would
be very happy if it starts today. But if it doesn’t take place for this
or that reason, we will continue to work in that direction, taking into
consideration all the remarks and criticism, because in our view it is
not the initiative of "Heritage" party but the demand of all Armenians.

It is not very important where and when will the dialogue be hold. Had
I received similar invitation, believe me, I would immediately
respond."

"As a pre-condition of the dialogue Levon Ter-Petrosyan demands to
release his supporters. Don’t you think this principle excludes the
possibility of the dialogue?"

"In my view those who have been detained due to their political views
must be released and this must be one of the priorities before June 20.

But dialogue presumes sitting around a table as soon as possible
and discussing all the proposals that can help overcome the
crisis. There are proposals from the both sides, pro-governmental and
pro-oppositional, so the only thing left to do is to sit and discuss
them. It is high time for each of us to unite around one idea. We must
set up a committee to investigate the details of the tragic events
of March 1 and release all the detainees who didn’t commit crime.

Meanwhile we must restore the freedom of speech of the citizens
of Armenia.

This is the complex of issues which need a tête-a-tête."

"Di d the coalition parties and radical opposition respond to your
invitation?"

"Not yet."

"Aren’t you satisfied with the approaches represented during the
consultation in the Presidential residence aimed at raising the role
of the opposition and mitigating the tension?"

"Yesterday I said, that if I were a member of the group I would have
introduced my objections, my special opinion. In my view we still need
a comprehensive project. We speak about justice, about the independence
of the courts. But this justice must be equal for everyone. There are
half steps towards this issue as well. As regards the issue of raising
the role of the opposition, we shouldn’t bargain around holding certain
positions, instead, our opposition must be properly represented.

In our program we tried not to concentrate on the pro-oppositional
and pro-governmental aspects. It is a proposal that presumes the
involvement of all the powers. If we change the places of the present
day opposition and government this program will still work."

"Many representatives of the ruling power, including President
Serge Sargsyan have accepted that they are also responsible for the
tragic events of March 1. Recently you also accepted your share of
responsibility, but still you failed to avert the bloodshed. How do
you estimate the fact that Levon Ter-Petrosyan doesn’t want to accept
that he is also responsible for what happened?"

"In my view everyone understands that they have their share of
responsibility for what happened on March 1, no matter they speak
about it or not. But the President and his main opponent, the first
President must feel political responsibility. But I don’t think,
by now any of them has completely accepted his responsibility.

I shoulder the responsibility of that tragedy as a citizen of Armenia
and I wouldn’t like to comment on the behavior of the other political
figures.

But on the other hand we must accept that we need to review lots of
thing especially our way of expressing opinions, and using certain
language, we must understand that today the interests of our nation
is on the scale."

–Boundary_(ID_aUILUpci5x50E18V/FvaQ w)–