DASHNAKTSOUTYUN AND THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PRESIDENTS
ANAHIT YESAYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 12, 2008
Armenia

AGHVAN VARDANYAN, member of the ARFD bureau had a meeting with the
journalists in the National Press Club yesterday. The speaker touched
upon almost all the pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral
processes.

99 PERCENT OF THE POLITICAL FORCES CONSIDER GENOCIDE AS A FACT

The statements made by the Armenian President in Moscow, the subsequent
clarifications of his Press Secretary and finally, our Foreign
Minister’s statements and our discussions have definitely led us to the
belief that the President of Armenia does not consider the issue of the
Armenian Genocide subject to any discussion, dispute or study. We are
sure that he considers Genocide as a fact.

The issue of the Genocide is beyond any dispute not only for
Dashnaktsutyun but also for 99 percent of the political forces. We rule
out the possibility that any senior official representing Armenia may
have a different approach. We insist on another important thesis: the
issue of the Genocide is related to the existence and security of our
state and people, as well as to our future.’

FROM RESOLUTION TO RESOLUTION

The speaker is convinced that it is the country’s internal situation
that has given rise to certain obligations enshrined in PACE
Resolutions # 1609 and 1620, `The political authority and the state
have committed themselves to complying with the obligations. They
managed to fulfill the obligations partially, and that led to the
adoption of Resolution # 1620, and I am sure that we will be able to
comply with the all the obligations in a limited period of time.’

A. Vardanyan is convinced that the authorities will fulfill the
obligations vested in them under the new resolution, `We are facing a
problem: the new resolution envisages obligations for the opposition as
well. For example, the opposition is obliged to recognize the results
of the elections and the decision of the Constitutional Court. That is,
the opposition must recognize the election results, and only thereafter
lodge appeals with courts of different instances.’

The member of the ARFD Bureau is convinced that `we have a President,
and our elections are over. There are certainly some problems which
are, by 99 percent, caused by the forces that are currently making
attempts to undermine Armenia. I am sure the authorities will comply
with the obligations vested in them, and the opposition will again
insist that no step has been undertaken, they do not trust the
authorities and so on and so forth, but this is already an episode from
quite a different opera.’

Let’s note that A. Vardanyan fully agrees to the assessments which
former President R. Kocharyan has addressed his predecessor.
`I am
deeply convinced that there is only one person who could have prevented
the March 1 developments. It is the first President of Armenia, but he
didn’t do anything on purpose, and if I am not mistaken, that day he
announced to the journalists that he had slept with a clear conscience
at night. If the unauthorized rallies had continued, something of the
kind would have certainly happened because it was the principal goal of
that political mentality and not the political force or its leader.’

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS UNFORTUNATELY UNACOMPLISHED

Why? In response to this question, A. Vardanyan presents his
assessments on the past ten years (1998-2008).

`The years of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency were really years of a
positive experience in terms of improving the situation in the country
and ensuring economic progress. We have had a good President but, along
with paying a great attention to the economy, we were unable to make
any progress in the process organizing the state institutions and
accomplishing the political system. In this respect, we have a gap
which is, to some extent, comprehensible. One can’t do everything at
once as things are interrelated.

I believe the accomplishment of our political system, the full
accomplishment of 3-5 political forces which have a program and
principles is simply a must.’

A.R.F.D. BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTIONS

A In this context, estimating the disagreements among the political
forces, A. Vardanyan notes, `It is their right. There’s no divergence
between the pre-electoral and post-electoral decisions and policy of
the ARFD. Yes, we had a presidential candidate who was a contender of
the elected President, and our criticism of different spheres of the
ruling authority did not absolutely prevent us from undertaking
responsibilities in the government, trying to solve the problems faced
by the country.

I am deeply convinced that the priorities and programs currently faced
by the country are not issues to be tackled by the forces representing
the opposition.’

At the same time, A. Vardanyan sees and appreciates the positive steps
made by the ruling government and the incumbent President. `I see
determination in making a serious economic progress and ensuring
anti-competitive conditions in business. Naturally, it is impossible
for each change of human resources and each new appointment to be
ideal; but there are positive changes in this direction as well. ‘