SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN CONSIDERS THAT ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CHOSE WRONG
TACTICS IN 2003
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In the opinion of Shavarsh Kocharian,
Chairman of the National-Democratic Party, RA MP from the Ardarutiun
(Justice) faction, the influence of the West on the processes taking
place in the post-Soviet states is considerably exaggerated and
the rumours about financing of this or that revolution by the West
just aren’t true. At the same time, during the March 23 meeting at
the National Press Club he mentioned that the West considers the
process of democratization of the former Soviet republics as one of
its main tasks. According to Shavarsh Kocharian, the situation in the
post-Soviet area was discussed at the meeting betwen the US and Russian
Presidents in Bratislava. They, in particular, touched upon the fact
that Russia supports the authoritarian regimes in these countries. “I
don’t exclude that Putin conceded to Bush in this issue.” As for
Russia’s policy in the South Caucasian region, the MP said that
today RF is carrying on a balanced policy here, i.e. parallel to
Armenia it tries to establish closer relations with Azerbaijan, as
well, which naturally, proceeds from its interests. Returning to
the subject of “velvety revolutions” in the post-Soviet area, in
particular, to the issue, why such a revolution failed in Armenia in
2003, Shavarsh Kocharian pointed to the wrong tactics chosen by the
Armenian opposition in 2003. “The opposition shouldn’t have promised
the people that it will start an attack in the nearest future, they
should have chosen the long way of struggle chosen by the Georgian
and Ukrainian opposition. The goal of the change of situation isn’t
the attack on this or that building, but this is a long-lasting attack
on the regime.” Besides, in his opinion, the Armenian opposition was
formed very late and at the moment of the post-electoral situation
there was no precise opposition field in Armenia. Answering the
question about absence of a real opposition leader today in Armenia
Shavarsh Kocharian didn’t exclude the possibility of nomination of a
real leader at the end of the struggle as this happened, for instance,
in case of Sahakashvili’s candidature. “Today we should accentuate
attention to the person capable of guaranteeing system changes in
the country,” he mentioned.