In response to a question of www.aravot.am whether it wasn’t important for him that his coalition partner the Rule of Law Party (RLP) didn’t participate in the discussion on establishing a joint staff – for example, Galust Sahakyan didn’t sign, also because of that and he signed – Vartan Oskanian who has been included in the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) list for proportional representation said, “Ask the organizers, they could have been present.” In response to our question whether he didn’t take into consideration the RLP absence, since he had said that the coalition was formal, Mr. Oskanian said, “I said that what exists in Armenia now is formal in terms of political science, but during the same conversation, when I was asked why it hadn’t left, I said that I couldn’t answer questions regarding things I hadn’t participated in. I explained the purpose of the coalition in terms of political science – i.e. what relationship has existed between the coalition members in the past years, I haven’t participated and I cannot give an assessment. And one should find out about the RLP participation from Hmayak Hovhannisyan. However, we want the statement we have made today to be open to everyone. We face no problem more important than conducting a free and fair election today. It is a national issue and it is a very important issue for every one of us. If we conduct an election that the people will not trust again, we will not have any progress in the upcoming 5 years, who wants to be elected, should be elected fairly, the defeated should congratulate.”
Mr. Oskanian also mentioned during a conversation with journalists that Gagik Tsarukyan had also stated that the coalition was in force until the separate struggle didn’t start, “Once the campaign starts, everyone should put forward his alternative. If a party has the majority inside the coalition, then it is formal.”
In response to our reminder that the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) members – e.g., Gagik Minasyan – said that Vardan Oskanian’s statement discredited the PAP, Mr. Oskanian didn’t wish to comment, saying that it was his opinion.
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Journalists also inquired how he would explain that he expressed an opinion not corresponding to the position of his party. Mr. Oskanian mentioned once again that he had just given an assessment of a political scientist, “I cannot say what relationship there has been between the PAP, the RLP and the RPA during the past years, whether they have listened to each other or not, because I wasn’t there, they should talk about that.”
In response to a question whether the PAP really believed that something would change, thanks to a joint staff, Mr. Oskanian said that if the people wished something to change, it should change, “Perhaps we give a wrong assessment. If the people are satisfied with their condition, they shouldn’t change it. If they are dissatisfied, they should change, there are serious alternatives today. I can say on behalf of the PAP that the PAP is a very serious alternative.”
Vartan Oskanian has signed the statement on establishing a joint staff. As for whether the PAP leader would sign and would agree with it, Mr. Oskanian didn’t say clearly, “I think a joint staff can only contribute to conducting a free and fair election. At the end of the day, the establishment, in particular, needs will. The staff can oversee violations, but I think that, first of all, the establishment should realize that we should be able to conduct a free election for our people after 20 years.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
