– What have you decided, will the People’s Party of Armenia /PPA/ participate in the forthcoming elections separately or together with an alliance?
– I think, we’ll make a decision about on Saturday. We intend to participate in the parliamentary elections separately but the city soviet of the party and administration haven’t made final decision yet.
– In case of participating lonely, don’t you have any apprehension that your partners will be dissatisfied with that step as many of them want to enter into alliance?
– I don’t think so, just the opposite, PPA has always unified the parties, and if no alliance is formed, PPA isn’t guilty for it. I don’t think it is right for the opposition to participate in the elections with a joint list. I’m sure that this was the authority’s initiative that was constantly saying that the opposition couldn’t be unified. Who did say that union was necessary. We don’t regret both for “Miasnutiun” and “Justice” bloc, but times are different and situations are different. We haven’t ever refused from our goal that is to establish constitutional authority in the country etc. But it doesn’t mean that the whole opposition must participate in the elections with a joint list to achieve those goals.
– Suren Sureniants, the member of “Republic” Party, has said that if any oppositionist party refuses to participate jointly, it will become clear that just it is the obstacle. And the OEP has already decided to participate separately, perhaps the “National Unity” will also participate separately, it seems the PPA too, doest it mean that all you are obstacles?
– We think that the PPA has no problem to unite with any other party, we have never been against, and we’ll discuss it but I don’t think that jointly participation is useful.
– There have been publications in the press that other names, in particularly Hrant Khachatrian may be included in your proportional list.
– This is misinformation, I’m PPA secretary and haven’t participated in such a discussion, it is excluded that it has been discussed separately. The list must still be discussed.
– It seems you have decided to participate separately. Have you decided to do so not to offend your own party members not to remain out of the proportional list as it was in 2003?
– PPA is one of those oppositionist parties, which has serious structures, it has saved its power and we haven’t weakened. PPA will demonstrate its power in the forthcoming elections.
– They say, the European observers will act without any mercy and will demand to review the results of the elections in case of illegalities. It isn’t a secret that they have always said it but what has happened as a result. In this case what expectations does PPA have from international observers and does the party believe in their sincerity?
– PPA has never had great expectations from the observers. The observers and their remarks are necessary, but these elections are different from previous elections. First of all the president is changed, then the role of the NA is risen, the president leaves and this forms a new situation, I’m sure it won’t be easy to draw figures, that’s why great electoral bribes are given. Those great expenses show the anxiety of the authorities that they won’t succeed in drawing figures. I’m sure the opposition has necessary prerequisites to win.
– Do you trust in your members of commissions?
– I respect our members of commissions and think everybody must respect because all those people are worthy to be respected as they have struggled for years and haven’t taken bribes. There are unique persons in this period of moral values’ decline, and I’m very happy that they are in our party.
– How much percents do you intend to get?
– I won’t say figures but don’t forget that PPA has won in all elections, so it aims to win again.