“The investments are personal and have nothing to do with politics”

Says Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party (SDHP) central department Chair Sedrak Ajemyan

– In your speech during The First Pan-Armenian Forum for Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations and Heads of Communities there was serious critique of our establishment, which is comparably novel. You do business in Armenia. Have you received any response from any government body after your statement? If yes, then who was it and what did he say? If no, how and by what do you explain ignoring a statement of a Diaspora investor?
– SDHP has never been guided by opportunism and just party interests. Yes, there was a part of critique in my speech, which directly reflects the Armenian reality of the past 20 years. Is it novel for anybody that there is a part of bureaucracy in Armenia that think they can do everything, is it novel that there is corruption in the country? The establishment voices that too. I stated in my speech that we perceive positively the recent statements and steps of the president to combat these vicious problems, however we are also convinced that the existing liberal, savage system causes this situation. SDHP is convinced that only a system of protecting interests of a social-democratic, friendly and working man can solve these problems. As to my investments, yes, it is no secret that I have made investments. The investments are personal and they refer to the party line so far as our economic intent is to develop remote regions and villages of Armenia and not downtown Yerevan.
– At the same forum you talked about emigration. Businessmen have also been leaving Armenia also for the reasons you mentioned. Under these circumstances how adequate is a forum for the unity of Armenians, why should a Diaspora investor commence a business in Armenia?
– There is a common phrase around the world that businessmen have no nationality – they spend money where they see benefit. I am absolutely against this notion. Yes, a Diaspora investor must invest in the Motherland, because he ought to, if he thinks he is Armenian. It is a different matter that the Armenian government must create favorable conditions for those investors to encourage them. By the way, as to the business investments, as opposed to the 1990s, there is no issue of “taking and running” in our country anymore. I.e. I am convinced that a smart businessman can do a successful business in Armenia. Yes, there certainly are difficulties and I talked about them at the Diaspora-Motherland forum.
– During the forum you gave importance to creating a pan-Armenian body. What will the body you initiated deal with and what rights and objectives will it have? Why should a man who lives a wealthy life in the West and a man who lives a tense, poor life in Armenia have the same rights to Armenia?
– The Hnchakyan Party proposed this many years ago. During a large conference at the French parliament a few months ago we reaffirmed our proposal. Creation of a pan-Armenian body is a necessity to discuss national issues and claims, in order to take into account the opinion of all Armenians while solving those issues. You say, why should an Armenian, living in the West, have the same advantages, as an Armenian from Armenia. But we shouldn’t forget that the classic Diaspora was formed not by our own free will, but as fate willed and because of losing motherland. Our ancestors were killed with Turkish yataghan; our ancestors were forced to leave their homeland. I am sure that the Motherland-Diaspora unity is the guarantee of our success, therefore it will be right, if Diaspora Armenians will also participate in discussions of issues of national importance.
– Is it possible that SDHP will collaborate with the Armenian National Congress (ANC) during upcoming NA and presidential elections?
– Our decision is final. There is an explicit difference between the Hnchakyan Party and that body in terms of ways, ideas and work style, therefore talking about an alliance is at least not realistic. How can SDHP become a part of a structure that not only welcomes, but also demands from others to put Armenia under pressure, so that it may agree to resolve the NK issue, according to the notorious Madrid Principles?! How can 125-year old Mother party become a part of a structure that tells the people that it will reestablish social justice by changing personalities. This is children’s game. Social justice can be reestablished only by changing the system that created that injustice.