Levon Zurabyan says about the predictions about the end of the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
For the first time in the past 15 years an extraordinary meeting of the parliament will be convened today at the opposition’s initiative. Applying Article 77 of the Constitution, the opposition and alternative parliamentary groups – 48 signatures in total – were able to convene an extraordinary meeting with proposals to make amendments to the electoral legislation. According to the Constitution, the minimum amount of signatures is 44, 1/3 of the MPs. Different members of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) have already stated that they don’t treat this initiative seriously; moreover, they are going to disrupt the work of the extraordinary meeting, not securing a quorum. In order to secure a quorum, one needs 66 votes, whereas the Congress, the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Heritage Party combined have 53 MPs. “We have the conclusions of the staffs of the Cabinet and the National Assembly, in which there are certain objections to the package of electoral reforms we have proposed. The two most important objections are that in the proposals we have put forward, preventing servicemen from participating is unconstitutional, and the demand to publish the list of voters contradicts the conclusion of the Venice Commission. I say to the RPA if this is the problem, we are ready to compromise tomorrow and to sustain the most important objections of the RPA,” Levon Zurabyan stated during a press conference yesterday. He also said that the ANC would offer “all citizens concerned about the future of the electoral system’s fundamental reformation” to be outside the National Assembly building at 2 p.m. today for a mini-rally.
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In this regard Aravot talked with Levon Zurabyan, the ANC coordinator and the leader of the ANC parliamentary group, yesterday.
* Different representatives of the RPA majority stated that they will disrupt the work of the extraordinary meeting. Is there any action plan? Are there certain actions to be made after the extraordinary meeting will be disrupted?
* We have made a decision, and we offer all active citizens concerned about this issue to be outside the National Assembly for a protest.
* Isn’t there a joint decision?
* There is no joint decision.
* Do you think it is possible that the ANC will start the active rally stage with tomorrow’s protest?
* One shouldn’t connect one with the other, but I don’t rule out that there will be more active public events.
* Are the approximate dates clear? Have that issue been discussed in the ANC political council?
* No, we haven’t discussed any dates.
* Different analysts, politicians, including former members of the ANC, have expressed opinions that if Levon Ter-Petrossian doesn’t announce his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, the ANC will disintegrate completely. Do you agree with those observations?
* You know what, I never share such apocalyptic approaches. Certainly, the establishment of the Congress is mainly related to this movement that Levon Ter-Petrossian started. The first president played a very important role in bringing political forces together and will continue to play that role. For some reason, they try to frighten us somehow, to make some apocalyptic predictions. I by no means share those.
All of us were united by an idea, common principles, the struggle for improving the economic and political system in Armenia and establishing democracy, and those values will continue to unite us forever. So all those people for whom these values are important will continue to jointly struggle.
* Isn’t the current situation really tragic for the ANC, if we take into account that as recently as two or three years ago, the ANC was an important factor on the Armenian political stage, they took the actions of the ANC seriously…?
* How did they take them seriously? And I think this is the drawback of such analyses. How did they take us seriously? By keeping prisoners of conscience in jail for years? By keeping Freedom Square occupied? Or by continuing illegal actions?
* As opposed to other forces participating in the political consultations, Khachatur Kokobelyan, the leader of the Free Democrats Party, attaches importance to who the leader, the joint candidate will be. What do you think about this approach?
* How can one avoid attaching importance to the leader’s personality? How can one avoid realizing that if there is a challenge to the regime, afterwards a candidate, this candidate should have huge personal abilities, qualities? Isn’t it obvious that he should be a man who has necessary qualities to unite?
* Every party considers its leader as such. In this case, how is the uniting possible, in your opinion?
* That is why there are negotiations. Certainly, everyone considers its leader. At the beginning of negotiations, everyone does so. However, negotiations aim at finding a common solution. If it is possible, then fine.
I think no one can criticize us that we are engaged in negotiations. If we hadn’t been, one could have criticized us for that, one could have said: “Why haven’t political forces even made an attempt to unite?” However, we have made an attempt; we negotiate conscientiously. Everyone is interested in that. What is the problem? Why are we anxious? What has happened? Why is the society so impatient? Or perhaps, not the society, but those political forces that fear unity are impatient. All of us should think that these exaggerated expectations and impatience are normal and continue negotiations as usual. If this good thing succeeds, it will clear the way for the country’s reformation.
NELLY GRIGORYAN
