“Well, if it doesn’t form, it doesn’t form. What do you think the Republicans will be sad because of that?” Suren Abrahamyan, a member of the Republic Party political council, said, in response to our observation that it turned out that Levon Ter-Petrossian had managed to drive a wedge between the PAP and the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and get rid of the coalition, since the PAP had not joined the coalition. In Mr. Abrahamyan’s words, “Not at all, because, in my opinion, the Prosperous Armenia Party won more votes, instead of going to wish good luck to the Cabinet it should have formed the Cabinet itself. They would have said then that they had made a brave and worthy move.”
According to Mr. Abrahamyan, the RPA will continue getting ready for the presidential election.
There is much speculation that after this statement of the PAP, that party will nominate its candidate for president and it is not ruled out that it will be Robert Kovharyan. Mr. Abrahamyan said in this regard, “I doubt it. If it hasn’t made that statement, if it hasn’t protected its votes, it hasn’t appealed the election results, I cannot imagine how they can bring Robert Kocharyan back to the political stage. It will have very negative impact on the Prosperous Armenia Party. Let’s put aside the rating, it-is-a-pity, you can interpret as you like.”
We also inquired whether he thought that it was formal that the PAP would not join the coalition. Mr. Abrahamyan commented, “It is a bit hard to answer that question at once. One should digest all that first, because it is unexpected for many of us, including also me. At least, it is a small step. Naturally, it is not only the wish of the party, but also some…also… I don’t want to say many things, at least, in case of the existence of some third force, perhaps Kocharyan’s factor, I don’t know, it is very hard to say a specific thing today.”
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One of the explanations of the Republican Party’s withdrawal from the ANC is related to the cooperation between the PAP and the ANC. Suren Abrahamyan did not agree with our observation in this regard that the PAP actually saw itself in the opposition camp by this move, “What is in the opposition camp? What is the move, it is ruled out, don’t be so credulous. It is ruled out that they will become oppositionists. They understand the future problems awaiting the republic, therefore, they ensure themselves, that’s all.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
