Ter-Petrosyan’s assertion, “The West is Serzh Sargsyan’s powerful sponsor and the “roof”

Why the first President does not say unkind words to the Russian Federation

“Now, let us talk about Serzh Sargsyan’s powerful sponsor or the “roof” – our beloved West. The entire problem is that the West treats the third world countries not from the standpoint of the interests of the peoples of those countries but from the behavior of the regimes established in these countries. Despite the rhetorical twaddle, there are no notions of people, freedom, justice and democracy in the foreign policy of the West. Everything is subject to the logic of geopolitical and economic interests…

Everything that was said about the third world countries’ regimes and the people equally extends also to Armenia. The West is not a friend of Armenian people but Armenia’s criminal administration, i.e. the murderers, robbers and the elections falsifiers, and as such, it has a direct accomplice in the rooting of abusing the human right, democracy and horrible corruption.” This was the statement by the first president of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, which he made many years ago at the rally on June 12, 2009, accusing the West that has tender and sponsoring attitude towards Serzh Sargsyan and his administration.

At that time, Levon Ter-Petrosyan said it because during the mayoral elections, the European observers, as he said, were “feasting” on the day of the election, saying that the elections were conducted in line with the European standards. During these years, we have had parliamentary, presidential and mayoral elections, as well as the referendum on Constitutional amendments. “Aravot” asked ANC faction leader Levon Zurabyan whether he shares the opinion that the West is Serzh Sargsyan’s powerful sponsor and the “roof.” “Levon Ter-Petrosyan has not said anything like that. He accused the West of not making an adequate response, of turning the blind eye on the violation of democracy and human rights.  But he has never said that the West is sponsored Serzh Sargsyan. Is it written a sponsor? In what year has he said such a thing? I will clarify it,” so responded Mr. Zurabyan.

When they insisted that the first president’s statement is also posted on the ANC’s official website, he replied, “If such a thing has happened, it was after the mayoral elections. Because once again the West has turned a blind eye, yes, it could give such an assessment.” We wondered whether he does not share this standpoint that the West is Serzh Sargsyan’s sponsor, he replied, “In some sense, yes, it is right. If it had turned a blind eye, then it acted in the role of a sponsor. Do you want to convince me that it is the sponsor? As much as he is turning a blind eye and will still do, in this sense, yes, it is the sponsor.” In his statement, Levon Ter-Petrosyan also explained why he does not say any unkind words to the Russian Federation by criticizing the West.

According to the first president, during the presidential and mayoral elections, Russia has not interfered in the domestic affairs of our country, “Russia, unlike the West, has never said that Armenia deserved a president like Serzh Sargsyan.” As interpreted by Levon Zurabyan, the whole problem is that Russia does not speak of democracy and human rights while the West does, and when it qualifies the illegal elections in compliance to the European standards, it contradicting itself.

HRIPSIME JEBEJYAN, “Aravot” daily