Eduard Sharmazanov admits that the amount of responsibility has changed
– The decision of the European People’s Party (EPP) to admit as observers three of the four Armenian parties that applied to it was a bit surprising, as the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) also applied and did not put forward a worse program, why only the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), the Rule of Law Party (RLP) and the Heritage Party were chosen?
– I have adopted a principle in the political practice that I avoid seriously commenting on programs and steps of other parties and I can speak only of our party and can say that becoming an observer at EPP was an important step for us and the EPP chairman mentioned in his welcoming speech that the President of Armenia contributed to peaceful democracy-building with the policy he pursued. Furthermore, he also highly appreciated the foreign policy carried out by the party and the President and noted thatArmeniawas a factor not only in our region, but also inEurope. This is a serious achievement and is one of the most important results of the President’s initiative policy. The Republican Party is the locomotive of the democratic processes today, the role of the leader of democracy has been played by opposition forces or figures for the past 20 years, in this case, according to the EPP chairman, RPA and the President of Armenia have taken over that role. This is an achievement for not only RPA, not only the President of theRepublicofArmenia, but also for our state and our society.
– The international organizations have been criticizing the Armenian establishment less or not criticizing at all lately, isn’t there any hidden agreement, then why have the international organizations become so kind, is it for nothing?
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– It is obvious that Armeniahas become a factor in our region thanks to the foreign policy carried out by our country. We have established very close relations with all five members of the UN Security Council – let me remind that it was the first time the President of Armenia paid an official visit to the Russian Federationand the Russian Federationis an economic and strategic partner of our country. It is interesting that carrying out a balanced policy with all of our partners, we manage to carry out an Armenocentric policy, in particular. I would like to remember the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy – being in the region, the French President communicated much more efficiently and warmly in our country and the statements made here and the fact that those words were turned into deeds prove that France appreciates President Sargsyan and the policy he carries out rather highly. As for making statements for nothing, I want to say that the superpowers don’t make such serious statements for nothing. By the way, the statements and calls of the French President urging Turkeyto recognize and condemn the Genocide were yet another response to those who state with or without reason that as a result of President Sargsyan’s policy the process of recognizing the Genocide will be forgotten and reach a deadlock. As we noticed, quite the opposite was the case and today the process of recognizing the Genocide has entered a new stage. I would like to stress another important fact – today we see that the world is taking the path of recognizing the right to self-determination of peoples and this issue is gradually becoming acceptable for everybody and it is not casual that the Southern Sudan has already become a member of UN and Armeniawas the first to recognize that state. By the way, I would also like to mention that we celebrated the 20th anniversary of independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) only a few days ago, and I take this occasion to congratulate all of us and one should take into account that without the free will of the NKR people no issue concerning this independent republic and her people can be solved. In the end, everyone seems to understand that there is no alternative to the independence of theNagorno-KarabakhRepublic and her people.
Basically everybody has noticed during this time and it is undeniable that our country has adopted a constructive and coldblooded policy in the Armenian-Turkish relations andTurkeyis completely visible for the world with her unconstructive position.
– Let me ask at the end what do you feel holding this new office, what has changed in your life?
– Only the office has changed, I am joking. Seriously, the amount of responsibility has changed and I am thankful to my party, my President and all those who upheld my candidacy, certainly this is trust conveyed to some extent in advance and I am ready to do everything I can within the limits of my powers to justify the trust of my older colleagues and first of all the President of the Republic. We enter a very important stage and the top priority for us is conducting a very good parliamentary election in a positive sense. In the meantime, the National Assembly must continue working as a rostrum for plurality and freedom of speech.
Interviewed MARGARIT YESAYAN
