“Are we courting a disaster?”

Says NU (National Unity) deputy chairman Gagik Tadevosyan about the pre-term election

“If the ANC wants and approaches this dialogue more constructively, it will achieve far more. The ANC is presented with a great opportunity, in order that it can gradually increase its rating until the next regular election”, expressed National Unity Party deputy chairman Gagik Tadevosyan his impression of the eventually happened, expected and prepared for a long time ANC-government first meeting. Our interlocutor is against the claims of the ANC that the only subject of the negotiations can be pre-term elections. He is against, since he is convinced that there are no such conditions, “It may take place only in a force majeure situation, if there is a matter of marking time in the NKR issue.” To – whether the current developments of the NKR issue rule out “force majeure” – question, Gagik Tadevosyan responded, “I wouldn’t like such a situation appear, but it is not ruled out. The Kurdish movement is active in Diyarbekir, the issue with Palestinians has become strained and we don’t know what developments these issues may have. In this situation we don’t need a force majeure situation. I want to hope that the centers that draw our diplomacy and politics will not lead to the tense situation. Particularly, if under these conditions the government and the opposition go for a dialogue, then we are stronger and more democratic and our will and demandfulness must be much more strong and powerful. The dialogue must strengthen our position in regard to the NKR issue resolution.” Getting back to the issue of pre-term elections, our interlocutor mentions that Armenia needs fundamental reforms more than anything today, in order the clan-oligarchic system is eliminated, the black economy comes to the tax field, the socio-economic and democratic issues are not only put forward, but are also resolved, “A1+” returns to broadcasting at last as an alternative TV channel etc. “Resolving these issues, the ANC has the opportunity to present itself to the people and say that it has reached the resolution of the issues as a result of its pressure. But raising the issue of pre-term elections today means to reach a deadlock, particularly, when the majority of the political field does not see any such conditions”, says our interlocutor, not perceiving seriously the claims that pre-term elections are going to make the government legitimate, “Who speaks of legitimacy? If Levon Ter-Petrossian respects and likes legitimacy so much, thinks it is necessary, then he should have made way for his friend from “Karabakh” committee in 1996. You remember, don’t you, the late Vazgen Sargsyan said, if Vazgen Manukyan had even won with 1000 percent, we wouldn’t have handed over the power all the same. Jhangiryan Gagik is the one who speaks of legitimacy, who has been the Godfather of the riggings in Armenia. Or let’s come to power as soon as possible, if there is something to rob, we will also rob. Is there a problem? If I know that this pre-term election will improve the socio-political state of our society, pensions, benefits, salaries will be equal to the basket of goods… the ration basket is 36 thousand drams under these price conditions, the basket of goods is 63 thousand. Any election, whether it is a regular election or a pre-term one flares up tensions, brings instability – are we courting a disaster today? What will we gain from a pre-term election; the winner would say, everything was legal and democratic, the loser would deny. Today our country needs stability, national unity and serious reforms.”
Gagik Tadevosyan thinks of the president of the republic as a very serious and flexible politician, as a result of which the powers of the world take into account Armenia and Armenia’s interests. However, according to him, Serzh Sargsyan has one shortcoming, “his patience is limitless.” According to our interlocutor’s assurance, among the members of the NU they have no problems with the RA Cabinet workers on human, personal level, moreover, they think that there are many smart and educated people there who, nevertheless, are not mature governors, have no governing experience, “and the president with his tolerance wants those guys not to give way to despair, to continue working, but that patience, unfortunately, is at the expense of our people.”