Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the leader of the Liberal Party of Armenia welcomes that move
At the end of year 2011 various officials and representatives of the European Union thought necessary to speak of the upcoming election inArmeniain 2012, underlining that they expected that election to be free and fair. “After the election in 2012 the European Union is ready to gather an international meeting to show support of the international community for the steady reforms in Armenia”, said Peter Stano, the Spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Enlargement, adding that it was necessary “to conduct this election in line with international standards and carry out obligations undertaken”. The Spokesperson for High Representative of theUnionfor Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton also spoke in that manner about the upcoming election. In response to Aravot’s question whether the European officials’ interest in the election in Armenia was “regular interest” or it could be really decisive given the geopolitical circumstances, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the former head of the National Assembly commission for foreign relations, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) member and the leader of the Liberal Party of Armenia, said, “Actually the European Union has analyzed what it has done and what it hasn’t in both the political and economic areas and their interest in the Armenian election (in order that it is free, fair and transparent) is not casual at all. They understand thatArmeniacannot make progress with such elections, rigging, ballot stuffing, beating up, it is full of danger, which was witnessed in 2008. They are very well-informed and understand that the society will not forgive, opposition will also not forgive this regime, if they try to rig again. I.e. the European Union wants to correct its mistake in the first place – they understand that they are responsible for events both in March 2008 and in April 2004. It is not left in the past. And now giving importance to free and fair elections inArmenia, the European Union wants to solve two issues – first, to have opposition not stir up the situation in the country before the parliamentary election, not demand Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation, the thing that we have to do. Now EU tries to delay that issue till the election, knowing well that a change of power will take place inArmenia. They try to do everything they can, in order that the change of power takes place as a result of a regular election – the ‘political elite’ will lose the majority and the opposition will come to power with new elite through a democratic election. Hence, EU tries to use a new model inArmenia, to reach a change of power in a totalitarian country through a regular election.” Hovhannes Hovhannisyan thinks that the willing of the European Union is generally honest, noting, “However, they don’t understand that they face a regime that wants to retain its offices and power at all costs, even through March 1 and it is not like they are not ready to take such civilized steps.” At the same time, Mr. Hovhannisyan rules out that the ruling establishment will venture “to step into the same river twice”, therefore, he welcomes the willing of EU to carry out a change of power inArmeniain a classic way.
We observed that the model proposed by EU corresponded to the interests of ANC, since ANC also wanted a change of power in a peaceful, non-revolutionary way, therefore whether ANC would try to reach all that through close cooperation with EU. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan said that ANC had established connections and had been working with international organizations long ago. The latter have been assured on various occasions that ANC and not this regime, with which they are compelled to work, preaches universal, democratic values inArmenia. And whether they like it or not, but they will have to reconcile with that reality one day. In response to the question whether he was excited about that wish of EU, since in 2008, although the national movement had reached its climax, the international organizations had not supported the movement and the opposition had been compelled to retreat its positions, Mr. Hovhannisyan said, “We are more excited by our people, our society’s mood and ultimate wish to get rid of this regime. We more rely on and trust our society, our people rather than the European organizations. We have been working with the European organizations for a long time, we know their enthusiasm quite well, we are also aware of their work, we know their double-standards too, therefore, we are not excited. We are excited about the willing of our people to create a new country.”
By the way, after the election in 2008 first president of theRepublicofArmenia Levon Ter-Petrossiancriticized the European organizations, high-ranking officials quite severely in his various speeches for inadequate attitude, response and using double-standards. In response to a question whether that critique had had an impact, in order thatEuropeturned to the Armenian opposition, our interlocutor said, “The EU institutions are ashamed of their attitude that they showed in 2008. Due to their attitude, they were guilty for March 1 by 90%. The election inArmeniais a touchstone for the European Union – will they follow the values they have declared themselves or not? If they continue using double-standards in countries like ours, EU will head for ruin, as a result of incorrect political position. The Council of Europe as an international organization has already lost its role inEurope, the same fate awaits the European Union. They have realized that. Although late, but they have realized that and try to make up for it.”
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NELLY GRIGORYAN
