“I did not need to know about the assurances of Cypriot Prosecutor’s Office, it is not possible.”- so answered the Vice President of ANC Levon Zurabyan to the question of Aravot.am whether he believes in Cypriot prosecutor’s assurances that it is not possible to open an offshore account without the knowledge of the person, in consideration of the assurance of the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan that the offshore bank account was opened by his name without his knowledge. Continuing the topic, he said,- “If such a thing was not possible, it would lead to a situation that many provocations would be employed against opponents, and the greatest threats would be endangered in the business world towards those honest businessmen who are in serious projects. Don’t forget that Cyprus is already a part of the European Union, and it has definite rules.” Mr. Zurabyan compared Tigran Sargsyan with a ‘liar thief’ and detailed,- “During the interrogation, Tigran Sargsyan, in the appearance of a liar thief, was changing his position every minute. At first he said that the fact is false, then he acknowledged that it is not false, but unknown people did it against him. Now he will say that his powers were forged. Every time, under the pressure of facts, new version will appear, and I am sorry, just the change of versions is a proof that we dealing swindlers.”
We inquired whether the names of country’s top officials and clergymen, in regard to such scandal, do not harm the reputation of the country, Mr. Zurabyan said,- “How can a church gather its flock, be a leading power for the believers, if one of the highest clergymen is engaged in simple tangible values, if the said person is involved in the offshore businesses, in diamond industry, and drives a “Bentley” car. How can these people be an example for a clergy, temperance, and hermit? Naturally, the image of Armenia will suffer because of these things. And if someone is filling water to the mill of Azerbaijan to spoil the image of Armenia, then they are the chieftains. If the opposition did not raise the issue, won’t it be made known, it should be made known. To this respect, the problem of the opposition is different, to rectify the spoiled image of the country, first to people who profane the country, to send them to the dump of the history, and if not successful to show that there are healthy forces in Armenia, that Armenia is not totally buried in corruption.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
