“I welcome Serzh Sargsyan’s response letter, because the content shows Serzh Sargsyan’s readiness to do, to change something, which will strengthen both Serzh Sargsyan and Raffi Hovhannisyan,” Anahit Bakhshyan, a Heritage Party member, said, stressing that it was her subjective opinion, as a concerned citizen, at that moment. According to Ms. Bakhshyan, “It is obvious that both legislative and constitutional amendments are needed. Everyone talks about that, not only oppositionists. Therefore, they must find solutions to national problems facing the country, sit at the negotiating table, and cooperate, everyone with his pen, with his paper. By saying ‘with his pen,’ I mean with his words. Everyone should see its results; everyone should believe that the document to be jointly signed will bring changes in everybody’s life.” In response to our question whether it wasn’t possible that this is just an attempt to lull the movement, since the past experience of a dialogue between the government and the opposition had shown that it was just “blabber,” and at the end of the day, this dialogue would not yield any results either. Anahit Bakhshyan replied: “Unfortunately, yes, the experience shows that. However, people are different, the leaders are different. Raffi is determined and willing. He has shown that by all his steps. Serzh Sargsyan also understands quite well that this is a good opportunity to gain a good name through the changes made to his activities in the next 5 years. I think a man should be concerned about his name. Serzh Sargsyan does not want to be labeled like his predecessors. A normal, pious man should have that concern. I think both of them should make a huge effort.” In response to our observation that Serzh Sargsyan “runs after two hares,” as the saying goes, how she would comment on the fact that Serzh Sargsyan said that Raffi Hovhannisyan was far from having a proper conception of the state and the system of government, the text was raw, and he offered a dialogue, Ms. Bakhshyan said that the important thing was readiness. “It doesn’t matter whether the rest is raw or mature, it will be cleared up at the negotiating table. However, they should sit at the negotiating table, particularly given the fact that it is Holy Week, which has an important symbolic meaning for us, when we approach the mystery of resurrection, it will be no accident, if God resolves it, and it happens during this week.” When asked whether Raffi Hovhannisyan would stop his hunger strike or not, Anahit Bakhshyan said that she didn’t know, but both of them should use the mystery of the week.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
