Suren Abrahamyan, a representative of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and the former Minister of Internal Affairs, is convinced that ANC will reach its goal, i.e. establishment of the constitutional order
– Yesterday the coalition working group made a public statement, by which they offered to get back to the dialogue issue after the end of the sit-down strikes and rallies – what do you think about this decision?
– It also fits in the context of this dialogue, we have given our legal assessment, rather reasoned, they on the other hand responded from the sheer authority perspective. At the end of the day, even if one is not a highly-qualified lawyer, he will understand what we said was sharp and clear, what they say is with some “ifs”, i.e. they accept what we say to the extent of approximately 70-percent, therefore we don’t accept their assessments.
– If the issue of “ifs” is solved, will the coalition-ANC dialogue continue?
– You know, if the authorities realize the importance of problems facing our country, our society and our state, if those problems are comprehended by them and some people, not high-ranking officials – I don’t know whether they may be called politicians at all – don’t display tough guy ambitions, then, certainly, it will. However, they should make some compromises, because at the end of the day, all of us have realized, particularly after Wikileaks revelations that only we care for the problems of this country; others under the cover of nice and good slogans, don’t give a damn for this country, the interests of this country and anything related to this country. This should be realized by everybody, both the authorities and the opposition.
– After a weeklong sit-down strikes and rallies what is going to happen?
– Then? This is a political process and there are different forms of political processes: sit-down strike; rally; press-conference etc., therefore we will be active participants of all processes going on in our country. Let the authority not cherish hopes, no matter we succeed or not, the opposition represented by the Armenian National Congress will breathe down its neck every moment, until a democratic authority is established in this country, an authority enjoying people’s confidence; we will reach our goal whether through span election or regular election, or else there is a force majeure situation, it doesn’t matter.
– I ask you this question as the former Minister of Internal Affairs; do the police behave themselves these days, when you organize sit-down strikes and rallies?
– Knock on wood, the police behave themselves; their attitude at least in the square (I don’t talk about blocking roads, not allowing people to come to the city and influencing the activists) is good, I wouldn’t say praiseworthy, knock on wood.
– So what has changed? Aren’t they the same police officers? In your opinion, why do they behave themselves now?
– Perhaps, we talked about, explained the laws so much, that it finally influenced them.