As per David Shahnazaryan conviction, the National Assembly should commence the process of expressing mistrust against Serzh Sargsyan and his resignation.
– Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his visit to Armenia, stated in Gyumri that Russia has never had the intention of leaving the Transcaucasia, moreover, Russia is going to strengthen its positions in the Transcaucasia. Mr. Shahnazaryan, can we consider it as a new political start by the official Moscow?
– Putin, basically, visited not Armenia, but Russia’s military base and its adjacent areas. Putin clearly confirmed Russia’s new objectives, according to which, the Russian Federation will be further strengthened in the South Caucasus, and that, in this policy, a great role is attributed to the 102rd military base. Obviously, the main factor intimidating security and stability in the South Caucasus is the very Russia policy and the military base in Gyumri. It is, above all, a threat to our statehood, and I think that this new Russian policy can be a serious threat to Georgia. Next, Putin’s disrespectful behavior to leadership of Armenia is unacceptable to me, because it’s a disrespectful attitude to all of us, to our state and society. Not less shameful was the flattery of RA officials towards Putin, which was characteristic to the Brezhnev era.
– Putin’s visit was marked by the protest in the center of Yerevan, to which the authorities reacted very toughly. Do you consider the action against strategic ally’s president effective?
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– The most notable event on December 2 was what happened in the streets of Yerevan, when several hundred young people proved that we are decent people and we will not tolerate the policy of seizing Armenia by the Russian Empire. We can be proud of these young men. I condemn the behavior of law enforcement towards peaceful demonstrators, and, in particular, the actions of individual police officers, who were acting as protectors of the interests of the imperialistic Russian rather than as RA police officers. I’m really proud that we have such a youth, and I have no doubt that our society will not tolerate what is happening today.
Since September 3, the legal assessment of the anti-constitutional process of Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union initiated by Serzh Sargsyan is the following: Serzh Sargsyan has begun a crime against the sovereignty of Armenia. In other words, the process that started during the period of Robert Kocharyan and Vardan Oskanyan, by handing over Armenia’s entire energy security to Russia, is continued today: now Serzh Sargsyan is selling our statehood and sovereignty to Russia, for the sake of his power.
– And, what way do you see to come out of the current situation?
– In compliance with RA Constitution and the laws, the National Assembly should commence the process of expressing mistrust against Serzh Sargsyan and his resignation. This is the only way to halt the crime against the state, which had begun on September 3. I call on all NA factions and MPs to wake up, state, we are losing sovereignty. We need to stand above personal and party interests.
This government is totally failed in all directions, it had no achievements, and it had not done anything positive, the only positive step, which was done, was the project on initialing the EU Association Agreement.
– The activeness of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Mohammad Reyisi, in recent days, some of his statements about Armenia gas price negotiations with the authorities of Armenia, gave rise to different interpretations. Can these incentives be associated with the visit of the RF President, and, in general, with the processes in recent months?
– Russia clearly shows that it has already obtained the right to rule over Armenia’s foreign and economic spheres, moreover, Russia is trying to establish control over the Armenia-Iran relations, and the statement of the Ambassador of Iran to Armenia is viewed in this very context.
– In other words, does Iran senses danger from Russia’s growing influence in our region?
– Armenia’s relations with Iran are extremely important, especially now, when the last processes between Iran and the “six” are taking place. Generally, it is important not only throughout the region but also in terms of global security. Russia is mostly worried about this tendency, because Russia’s economy depends only on oil prices, and if the sanctions against Iran are removed, the oil prices will fall down, which will paralyze Russia’s economy. Our relations with Iran are extremely important, it should not be allowed for Russia to continue monitoring these relations. However, current authorities are unable to reach the point, and generally to make any independent move towards the relations with other countries without the consent of the Kremlin.
All gas pipelines designed and running from the Caspian region to Europe are passing through Turkey’s territory, and, basically, Turkey obtains the possibility to having a political control over the gas exports from the Caspian region to Europe. Whereas, without the Iranian gas, all programs, in fact, are not efficient enough. If the political issues in Iran-West relations were settled, the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Europe gas pipeline would be the most efficient. This project has been discussed several years ago at expert level by European and American experts, a couple of years ago, I had the opportunity of exchanging opinions about these opportunities in Brussels. Russia is also pursuing the goal of preventing further possibility of implementing similar projects in Russia, which, according to the statement made by Putin in Armenia, has decided to increase its influence in the South Caucasus, which means that the Kremlin establishes a complete control over our region.
Emma GABRIELYAN
