A1+

Beglaryan’s nomination is a challenge for citizens of Yerevan
[01:39 pm] 12 March, 2009

Economist, former mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan doesn’t think
that the rumors about the resignation of RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan and the finance sector of his government are nonsensical.

`Everyone understands that if the government officials of the
finance-economy sector of the government resign without Tigran
Sargsyan, that will mean the immediate destruction of the financial
market. Everyone understands that the resignation is due to the fact
they are not able to control the situation, that there are others
standing in their way and those people are the oligarchs,’ said
Mr. Khachatryan.

He says that the reason for the lack of money flowing into the state
budget is due to the tax evasion of oligarchs. Are oligarchs
contributing to change of power by not paying taxes? In response to
that the economist said:

`Yes, they are indirectly contributing to change of power. They refuse
to pay taxes saying that they paid them during the elections and have
nothing to give. It turns out that nobody pays.’

The economist believes that Tigran Sargsyan is powerless.

`During his term in office Tigran Sargsyan proved that he can’t
govern. The authorities have to find people to accuse and it is not
excluded that they sacrifice Tigran Sargsyan, but I think that the
authorities will step down from power together.’

Vahagn Khachatryan believes that the state of the economy will not
change even if the authorities replace Tigran Sargsyan with another
professional.

`There have been changes in the economy during the past three
days. The dollar is once again in demand, yet we don’t see economic
development. The authorities might find someone who is a better
professional than Tigran Sargsyan, but the people won’t understand
that because that will be the choice of the authorities. The change of
government must be political. Unfortunately, the current
administration is not ready for that.’

Mr. Khachatryan considers the faith and confidence of the people as
the most important precondition for overcoming the crisis.

Upon the request of `A1+’, as former mayor Vahagn Khachatryan touched
upon the upcoming elections for city council and the chances of the
candidates running for mayor.

`Yerevan needs a new, young, energetic and trustworthy person.’

Since there are currently only two candidates for mayor of
Yerevan-Republican Gagik Beglaryan and candidate of the `Prosperous
Armenia’ party Harutyun Kushkyan, Vahagn Khachatryan only touched upon
one of them.

`Gagik Beglaryan’s nomination is a challenge for all citizens of
Yerevan. By nominating Beglaryan the authorities sent a message to the
people that they are going to do as they please. With that they are
saying that if you don’t like it, then leave Yerevan. As for the
`Prosperous Armenia’ party candidate, if he is running in order to
serve the interests of Beglaryan during the elections, I don’t accept
that. The Republican Party should have nominated Kushkyan and it would
be a totally different story. Kushkyan doesn’t have negative
attributes like Beglaryan.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress