Aram Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, about the National Assembly election and Azerbaijani President’s attitude
The parliamentary opposition parties, the Heritage Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, initiated at the end of year 2011 a process of transferring to 100% proportional representation system. Almost the whole opposition camp joined it, mentioning as the main argument that it was a good opportunity for the establishment to take a step toward free and fair elections. Different government officials themselves talk about the necessity of that thing more often. The parliamentary opposition put forward the initiative for National Assembly discussion. The response of the ruling coalition representatives is rather interesting. Republican MP Hovhannes Sahakyan stated yesterday that the initiative of the parliamentary opposition to eliminate the majority rule system would be put on the National Assembly agenda, but would not be passed, since the parliamentary majority had made a political decision not to make any amendments to the Election Code before the election. He also thought that the proposal of the parliamentary opposition was impossible from the time perspective.
Yesterday Aram Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) and a former MP, referring to this viewpoint at the request of “Aravot”, noted, “That guy stated another strange thing as if the Russian election showed that conducting elections through the majority rule is a necessity. I cannot understand the logic of the Republicans. Let us leave it at that. But I think that if there is a necessity for it, it must be carried out and no matter when the proposal was made.” Our interlocutor also informed that some parties, including
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DPA discussed the text of other amendments that would be presented to the society in its final version soon. One of the proposals is that the parties should be given an opportunity to participate in elections not only paying the deposit, but also through collection of signatures – 50 thousand signatures, in case of parties and 75 thousand, in case of alliances, “Those who want to pay money very much can go and pay it, we are not against it. However, we must have the right to participate in elections providing the respective support of the people.” There is also another proposal to clarify the amount of votes for one seat, “Since 1995 there is always an excess – in 1999 – 20%, in 2003 – 24%, in 2007 – 25%. Those votes were just distributed among the parties that crossed the 5% margin, they got a big present. The funny thing is, however, that liberal parties distribute among themselves the votes won by socialist parties. Under these circumstances, we think that the amount for one seat must be determined, it is simple math and the party that won its votes should get one-two seats. It will be fair.”
Getting from the Armenian reality to the regional developments, Aram Sargsyan expressed concerns that tensions between Armenia and her neighbors might increase in the short-run. Iran-USA highly dangerous relations, in our interlocutor’s opinion, will have a direct impact on Armenia, “taking into account the fact that Mr. Aliyev is looking forward to the moment when controversies between Iran, the US or West and Israel become so deep that they will turn into military operations, in order that Azerbaijan in turn launches an attack on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.” According to our interlocutor’s information, Aliyev is already “bargaining” with both Russians and Americans, puts forward some issues, in order that they show neutral attitude toward Azerbaijan’s possible actions. “Nothing can be ruled out. The developments lead to day by day increase of tensions, none of the sides wants to compromise and if the European Union countries actually make a decision on January 30 to ban exports of Iranian oil, in that case, it is very probable that Iran takes adequate steps, about which she has already stated. In that case, it would be very hard to predict the developments. I am concerned about that, because in 2008 when the Georgian-Ossetian conflict emerged, Azerbaijan wanted to use that situation by any means and in her turn attack the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I uncovered that project at the time and made a public statement also during hearings that took place in Stepanakert and the Azerbaijani side did not issue any denial. It was just like that. The same thing may happen also in this instance when there are developments concerning Iran”, says Aram Sargsyan. We inquired whether the possible meeting on January 23-24 in Sochi between Medvedev, Aliyev and Sargsyan, which had not been officially confirmed, but had not been denied either, was among our interlocutor’s concerns. According to Aram Sargsyan, that meeting will take place, the information is accurate and it is related to his concerns, “However, there also are indirect facts that Azerbaijan is so excited about its military equipment storage that she really has to use it somewhere. There is information that they recruit mercenaries in their army, in order to use that equipment and it seems to have become regularity that Aliyev undertakes some venture after every such meeting. He can come to the meeting and then take an unpredictable step and we have to be ready.” In response to the question what was the purpose of that meeting, since nothing was said about it, our interlocutor said that the agenda had not changed, it was the same, because the negotiation process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was in deadlock, “I think they’d better plan a change in the negotiation process, give up the notorious Madrid principles and draw a new agenda, but unfortunately, I just don’t believe that Azerbaijan is ready for the peaceful settlement of the conflict. Probably the news is not casual that Mr. Aliyev told the American representative at the time that he didn’t plan a war, but he would try to bankrupt the Armenian states keeping the Armenian side so intense, because we will not resist to the arms race and he will reach his goal without great effort. Probably that project of his is not realizable in the near future, therefore, it is not ruled out that he will undertake a new venture.”
NELLY GRIGORYAN
