“Serzh Sargsyan has always been the parent of Rule of Law party. In 1997-98, when Serzh Sargsyan was the Minister of National Security and Internal Affairs, I remember it like today, how the police and Police Chiefs were meeting this Party. Hovik Abrahamyan, probably discussing with Serzh Sargsyan, decided to get rid of that burden, because it no longer had any political dividends since 2008,” so interpreted the former ANC alliance member, President of the “Democratic Homeland ” party Petros Makeyan in the interview with Aravot.am on April 17, referring to Rule of Law party’s statement on withdrawal from coalition and joining the opposition. As he said, “Since in 2008, the Rule of Law party had a significant role in taking the power, it deceived the people and passed to the government side, I think, for quite a long time Serzh Sargsyan kept him in the government system. Now, the Republican Party wants to get rid of this burden. Now what quality and what political value the Rule of Law will have, life will show. But if our society, over the time, does not so quickly forget what RoL party did, naturally, it will not have any value.” To our question the the opposition qualifies RoL as RPA’s attachment, whether it is possible to save the RoL’s face, Mr. Makeyan said, “If our people’s memory is short, it is possible. After this treacherous move of 2008, it betrayed the people, he did not betray anyone, neither Levon Ter-Petrosyan, nor the ANC. He betrayed the people. Artur Baghdasaryan became an oligarch, small businesses were kept. Whether it was an attachment or not, it is clear that after 2008, it no longer had a political value. But, Serzh Sargsyan kept and had to keep, otherwise this contribution was incomprehensible. Now, it is the time, 6 years passed. I was even thinking that after 2013 presidential elections they should be left out, anyway, they were kept for 1 more year.” It is known that Artur Baghdasaryan and Serzh Sargsyan had very warm personal relationships, they are close in families, whether it will not play any role, Petros Makeyan responded, “I was an MP with Artur Baghdasaryan since 1995, he has neither personality, no political role to be able to have good or bad relations with the so-called first face of the country. He was always shown his place. Remember when Kocharyan called him a traitor. This traitor was appointed as Secretary of the National Security. In other words, they used him there, where and how they found it appropriate. Arthur Baghdasaryan is not the face, with whom the relationships are good or bad. I have witnessed how Serzh Sargsyan has formed this party. And I have seen Arthur Baghdasaryan’s personal qualities in 1995-96, in the National Assembly. He does not have any merit, both humanly and in politics. Simply, Serzh Sargsyan kept him, naturally, as a tall and handsome guy with good public-speaking skills. It has a place, especially in Armenia. Was used and they used.” To our question that over these 6 years, the RoL party was not given any serious and weighty position, why it decided to raise this issue now, and complain of RPA’s sole decision, Petros Makeyan responded, “A part of portfolios given to RoL did not belong to it. If you remember, these ministers were becoming a member of RoL party a day before and then becoming a minister. In other words, they had nothing to do with RoL party, simply Serzh Sargsyan used this political unit and introduced some ministers by this block. They had made RoL a formal party, the RoL party was used, and some ministers were introduced under the name of RoL party”.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
