“In our history, when the Russian-Turkish interests coincide, it had tragic consequences for Armenia and the Armenian people. We should do everything to exclude it. Accordingly, we need to have law-and-order, elected government that recognizes Armenia’s sovereignty and national interests. Currently, our non-elected authorities are given to foreign states. And as long as this is the situation, we must continue having losses,” said the “Heritage” Party leader, Raffi Hovannisian, in conversation with Aravot.am, referring to the facts of selling weapons to Azerbaijan by Armenia’s strategic partner declared Russia, and recent subversive acts implemented in Armenian settlements by Azerbaijan. Recall that Azerbaijan committed the recent subversive acts on Friday, in Karvachar area, and as a result, Karen Davtyan, born in 1977, was injured. “Yes, we can criticize Russia that being our strategic partner it is selling billions of dollars of weapons to Azerbaijan, does not respond to the deliberate killings of our soldiers by Azeri and it is not always that it behaves like as a strategic ally. There is a lot of criticism here, but first and foremost, our de facto authorities deserve criticism that are going to each capital, from Moscow to Beijing, from Brussels to Washington, and say “yes” to everybody, leading processes, which years later hits our people like a boomerang,” said Raffi Hovannisian, recalling that “Heritage” Party is against Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, not because they are “anti-Russian,” but that they assess the country’s sovereignty and independence, and RA citizens’ social and economic interests. “Half-joking and half-serious we need to thank all the countries, which by this or that cause protract the process of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. We hope that in this protraction process, Armenia will regain its freedom and sovereignty,” said our interlocutor, adding that if Europe continues turning a blind eye to Armenia’s rigged elections, Genocide, Artsakh freedom and self-determination imperatives, then it “presents a few alternative.” Raffi Hovhannisyan expects that Europe will review its wrong approach to Armenia and the Armenian people. Aravot.am also asked Mr. Hovhannisyan whether President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement during his visit to Latin America that Armenians are concerned about Russia’s sales of weapons to Azerbaijan means that the RA authorities no more trust the RF authorities. “I cannot say on his behalf. He said very little and very late. But, at least he said that the Armenian people do not treat it well. It’s too late, and too weak, but if this is the beginning of the new era, let people know about it. But, from the Armenian-Turkish protocols to the Madrid principles, our deceased soldiers from Tavush to Nakhchivan, we are going after the events. Based on national unity and Constitution, we do not prevent international and regional threats to our national security,” said Raffi Hovannisian, yet, considering the main culprits “inside us”.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
