Vagharshak Haroutiunian, the former defense minister, deputy head of “National Renaissance” Party says about possible candidates for the presidency.
– National security conception has already been formed. In your opinion will it become a ground for our officials to demonstrate joint position in foreign policy or whether this document is a component for Serge Sargsian\’s pre-electoral propaganda?
– Irrespective of everything I highly remark the formation of such a conception. Both our party and me speak of the necessity of such a document for a long time, and large groups both from authority and opposition took part in its discussion. I must note that this document has been formed by the ruling clique that\’s why there are some mistakes about clear description of situation and threats of the Armenian economic and other spheres. One subunit of Defense Ministry mustn\’t design the documents itself, as the sphere of military security is only one of the components of the conception. The formed interdepartmental commission must play its core role in the formation of the conception.
– In your opinion, whether this conception or Garnik Isagulian\’s leading unpublished analyzes of the Institute of Political Researches may have their influence to go over foreign and home policy again?
– It depends on traditions. I\’m sure they won\’t be completely ruled by this conception. If the Constitution and laws are broken in Armenia, it\’s natural that a document which is adopted as the government\’s decision won\’t exert any influence. In my opinion, this is also wrong. The RA President must also be ruled by this document, so the concept must be adopted as a law or the president\’s order.
– Anyway, do you think that the current Defense Minister has already launched pre-electoral campaign? Serge Sargsian himself denies it noting that the journalists cover his actions more fluently.
– His activities are obvious. It is obvious there are activities in different spheres: meetings in schools and other arrangements, which have no connection with the current activities of the ministry.
– Is it obvious that Robert Kocharian will leave his post without settling the NK conflict, with the help of which he came to power in 1998?
– The settlement of the conflict doesn\’t only depend on desires of the Armenian party. Observing the internal situation of Azerbaijan, and their president\’s declarations and behavior, I\’m sure that conflict won\’t be settled till the presidential elections of Armenia.
– Is it obvious for you, has the authority selected its succeedent? Will Serge Sargsian be next president or whether accident solutions are also possible, Vardan Oskanian, David Haroutiunian or others.
– Always several versions are designed during difficult political processes. I\’m sure the same logic acts in our country, too. There is the main candidate; there are also secondary, reserved versions. I don\’t want to say which name is reserved.