Vahan Shirkhanyan, a former Deputy Minister of Defense and a Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) Central Administration official, talks about the decision of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) not to join the coalition and the decision of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) to assume the offices.
* Were the current condition and grievances of the Armenian National Congress expectable for you?
* It couldn’t be otherwise. A political institution calling itself a National Congress hasn’t made public any national program or at least taken on a national task for five years. Moreover, it has revealed its antinational essence, welcoming the Armenian-Turkish road map and afterwards the notorious protocols, copying and adopting the government’s attitude in the opposition camp. This is a heavy blow at the Armenian society and all Armenians. The government’s attitude can be explained by the obligation to cooperate with foreign centers of power, whereas the attitude of the ANC cannot be explained in any way. It couldn’t be otherwise for another reason too. One part of our society orderly came to Freedom Square for 4 years, hoping that the ANC would keep its promise made more than 50 times and will achieve span elections, by which the hardest social problems
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would be solved. However, what should happen happened and I think that the ANC leadership has known quite well during the past 3 years that it will be so.
* Why do you think so?
* The strength of the political opposition is measured by the number of the oppositionists, their decisiveness and the leadership’s adherence to principles. The ANC leaders are experienced figures and they saw quite well that they didn’t have resources to achieve span elections and a change of power. Thus, they shouldn’t have continued making promises, not keeping which only disappointed and wore away the opposition mass.
* At that time, when one wing of the SDHP left the ANC, expressing disagreement on main issues, you were accused of cooperating with the government. Now, when the ANC is in such a condition, what will be your response?
* I don’t either need or want to respond. I have never deviated from my principles. Let them think where they have reached after making thousands of honest people go through manifold harsh times? And we left the ANC, because an insurmountable contradiction of opinions on national issues occurred.
* Do you think that members of the ANC were right when they decided to be a part of the legislative power represented only by a few people, whereas they refused to work in Yerevan City Council represented by a weightier group? What problem do the first president and the top of the ANC list solve by that decision?
* Certainly, I don’t think it is right. But perhaps the ANC has decided that it has noting else to do.
* How will you assess this election from the perspective of a political force that has not participated in the election processes?
* It was an ordinary election, but more organized.
* Do you think that the PAP did the right thing when it refused to join the coalition and what was the reason?
* The PAP was established inside the government and it matured using governmental leverage. It can quickly split without that. Not only the PAP, but also any political force cannot keep its promises made to the people and turn words into deeds, if it doesn’t have power. I think that move is a wrong one.
* Perhaps they hope to come to power with Kovharyan next year.
* I think it is a national issue, as the issue of achieving international recognition of the Genocide and Karabakh, to prevent Kocharyan’s return.
Interviewed NELLY GRIGORYAN
