Former RA Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan and NDP leader Shavarsh Kocharyan conducted a debate in “Hayeli” club.
The theme of debate was “Regional developments and Armenian-Russian economic relations”.
When Shavarsh Kocharyan spoke about the construction of new nuclear station, Hrant Bagratyan reminded him that the former authorities were carrying negotiation during 1995-1996, but it was stopped or 10 years since the current authorities were accusing the former authorities of “stealing mazut”. The debate was conducted in the following way:
Hrant Bagratyan: “The gossips about “mazut” have been even examined by the Prosecutors’ office, people apologized after. (The head of “Hayeli” club reminded that everybody has already forgotten that case but he is constantly reminding.- A.I.) No, we should turn to that issue, and those people should be punished, who were rising that issue”.
Shavarsh Kocharyan: “The thief is usually punished in the whole world and not the person who says that something has been stolen”.
Hrant Bagratyan: “You are the thief. There has been no story about mazut. Electricity has been produced by gas”.
Shavarsh Kocharyan: “These are your figures, you said during your rule that the existed store was enough to provide the necessary electricity. Where are the money provided by the budget? You should explain to the public before to avoid the permanent queries.”
Hrant Bagratyan: “We weren’t allowed to speak. I can show you Tigran Naghdalyan’s letter of refusal, Arshak Sadoyan’s apology in the Prosecutor’s office: he went and declared that he hadn’t accused anyone.”
Sh. Kocharyan suggested to speak about the current situation: “Today we should go ahead and don’t revert to the past.” One of the journalists reminded Sh. Kocharyan’s standpoint that it was not clear what Levon Ter-Petrosyan “will do after coming to power besides yielding the NKR”. And the debate was strained.
Hrant Bagratyan: This expression is nothing else than an instigation. Levon Ter-Petrosyan has never yielded Karabagh. As I remember you wanted to yield Meghry. Not only Karabagh, but also Meghry you were going to yield ”.
Shavarsh Kocharyan: Who?
Hrant Bagratyan: Mister Kocharyan.
Shavarsh Kocharyan: Which Kocharyan?
Hrant Bagratyan: Whose order do you commit. Eight persons are going to nominate their candidacy for the presidential elections, why do you speak only against one. And why do you lie? Where have read that he will yield?
Shavarsh Kocharyan: “There have been 2 interviews: Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Ayaz Mutalibov in “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” newspaper in 1992. Levon Ter-Petrosyan has written that the best settlement of the conflict is that to be NK autonomy in the territory of Azerbaijan. Is this strange for you?
Hrant Bagratyan: Is is strange for you that you have signed papers in Istanbul for several times about Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. I don’t know whether Levon Ter-Petrosyan will nominate his candidacy or not but he will never sign a document which will give Karabagh to Azerbaijan.”
“Aravot” asked NDP leader to answer why did he speak only against Levon Ter-Petrosyan, whether he is among those oppositionists who are more opponent to the former than the current authorities. In answer to this Sh. Kocharyan said that it was important for him to have a unified candidate from the opposition: “I think that Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s candidacy will be very profitable for Serge Sargsyan. Since the majority of the population will say that Serge Sargsyan is better than Levon Ter-Petrosyan”.