Zhirair Seifilyan says in the interview to “Aravot” daily.
– It is mentioned in the official invitation cards that they invite to participate in the celebration of the Armenian Army’s 15th anniversary and nothing is said about Shushi liberation. As the hero of Artsakh war, how do you mark the “neglect” of this fact?
– I am the participant of Artsakh war and not a hero. As regards the celebration, I have always said that the events are like shows deprived of content and essence. They become more and more meaningless as the organizers don’t understand the essence of those holidays. Do you imagine that the population of Shushi was more during the war in 1993-94 than it is today? If the ruling clique understood the importance of Shushi, that city will be in quiet different state. Nowadays it looks like the city of ghosts. So Shushi’s “neglect” wasn’t an omission, as the organizers don’t feel Shush-homeland in their souls.
– Ilham Aliev declared that the Armenian’s shouldn’t pretend and must declare that the final arrangement has already made: to cede the territories. Are you informed about that arrangement and how do you mark the information to give 7 territories, including Kelbajar and Lachin back?
– What Aliev has “declassified” isn’t secret for us. As it was spoken of the same in Key West, too. It was discussed to cede the territories and the main argue was about the width of corridor. The same discussion was made during the rest of negotiations. You shouldn’t understand that Aliev’s declassification is directly connected with the RA interior developments. As we remember, Kocharyan had ordered the political forces in his speech several months before not to manipulate the NK conflict. Unfortunately, the majority of political forces obey this command. The authorities don’t want to speak about this conflict, as they realize that they are betrayers, so Aliev decided to make a slap on Kocharyan’s face. And if the official Yerevan denies this, one of the co-chairs will make the next slap that will assure Aliev’s statement. The authorities allow any country which pursuit its interests in this region, to interfere easily in our interior developments. This is the real betrayal. I want to assure that the majority of Armenian people are against any territorial trade.
– You have a lot of supporters, are you going to coordinate them whom they should elect in the upcoming parliamentary elections?
– I have already told that the opposition acts by the scenario of the ruling regime. But this circumstance shouldn’t disappoint us and I call our people to participate in the elections, not giving their votes to any authority party. I also call the people to support “Dashink” party and its leader Samvel Babayan who dared to take the responsibility of the Army command in the hardest days of the liberation struggle.
– In your opinion why does Samvel Babayan carry out policy, what can he change with several lawmakers?
– I think Samvel Babayan has carried out policy since ’88-89. There is a mistaken opinion that who defends the homeland doesn’t carry out policy. I’d say that the person, who has decided to defend his homeland voluntarily, must realize very well that he is involved in the great policy from that time. I think nothing will be possible to change if the opposition doesn’t become the majority in the new forming parliament. If the opposition doesn’t become the majority it will mean that the elections have been rigged once more, as the majority of our people have a negative opinion about the current authorities?
– How do you remark the opposition’s behavior, is there any opposition party which will struggle till the end?
– I think Nikol Pashinyan is decisive to struggle up to the end. The opposition should join round one ideology: not to be the authorities’ slaves. If the unified opposition forces struggle honestly and are ready to suffer different kinds of deprivation and in case of well-organized actions the current authorities will be easily dismissed. I call the opposition to continue the struggle jointly, putting aside discrepancies.
– Will you be set free after the elections?
– As the authorities don’t know how to close this false case, I can’t answer that question. But I can affirm that each day of our imprisonment adds the severity of punishment against them in the future.