Babken Ararktsyan and Erjanik Abgaryan, the founders of “Alternative” refused of being the ruling part of that initiative.
Babken Ararktsyan, the president of the board of “Armat” public organization and Erjanik Abgaryan the member of “Armat” and ANM administration, who were the members of the coordinating board of that initiative, didn’t want to be included in that ruling body. When we tried to find out from Erjanik Abgaryan whether it was true, first of all he denied that they were out of the board: “There is no intention for such things. We act actively. Who wanted to include more youth in the initiative, allowed them to have more opportunities to act? They may have a fresh look at the issues”. He also noted that all members of the initiative group are allowed to participate in the sittings of the coordinating board: “There is no problem here. If I see any problem, I will participate by all means and will express my opinion on that issue.”
But when we were interested when they decided to leave the coordinating work to the younger representatives, he answered: “I think that we should give an opportunity to those persons who need in public attention more and who are capable to express fresh ideas and standpoints”. He also added: “There can be disputes during our work but these are not strange for us. Our organization has a democratic inclination, it is our choice. And it is very ordinary for us to argue and oppose to any opinion, which is not convenient for different purposes”. Yerjanik Abgaryan underlined: “Our denial exerted no influence on our general way of action. We all act actively”.
These politicians join Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s visits to regions. The pro-authority press is so anxious that it seeks Khachik Stamboltsyan’s assistance, who hasn’t carried out policy for a long time. Yerjanik Abgaryan said on the occasion of the appearance of ANM former member Khachik Stamboltsyan and propaganda against Levon Ter-Petrosyan: “This is not strange. The same story happened in 2003: Khachik Stamboltsyan, Shavarsh Kocharyan and Arshak Sadoyan and different “intellectuals” were propagandizing people against the former authorities, in particular against Levon Ter-Petrosyan. When the possibility of the latter’s nomination rises, they start working in favor of the authority. If we try to analyze what they declare, it will become clear that it is nonsense”. As an example, he spoke about Shavarsh Kocharyan’s affirmation as if Levon Ter-Petrosyan had declared about giving Karabagh to NK: “This is not right. Contrary to Shavarsh Kocharyan & Company, has declared that this issue would be settled by Karabagh people. All parliamentary parties were obliged by the signed document towards CE in 2001 to exert influence on NK people forobvious that these are people who don\’t have political way of thinking».