"IF WE AREN’T COMPETITIVE, WE LOSE"
Aravot.am
20 Oct 06
OEP leader, NA former chairman Arthur Baghdasarian says.
We have been informed that you have been awarded by the highest state
medal of Austria for democratic development and Euro integration. This
is the second European award after President of France Jacques
Chirac’s highest award. Is our information right and if it is so,
doesn’t is mean that the influences of the outside world become more
and more important for our country.
Yes, that information is true and I want to thank to the President of
Austria for that highest honor. As for your question about the outside
world I want to say we can’t live in an isolated world nowadays,
we must understand that rivalry and not contrast are preferable in
the globalizing world, and if we are competitive, we lose. We must
understand first of all that for being competitive we should create a
free democratic country inside our country and coming parliamentary and
presidential elections are very important for the future of Armenia. My
London meetings proved that everybody were interested there in Armenian
elections. We should understand that foreign countries will influence
us by all means and this connects with the rising interests of the
region. We must realize that we are obliged to hold fair elections
corresponding to international standards. If we hold unfair elections
we’ll have bad remarks and developments both inside the country and
out of its borders.
The leaders or representatives of almost all forces of the opposition
field don’t hide that they agree with the formation of a bloc with
OEP what about the OEP’s orientation, are you going to participate
in the coming elections separately or with a bloc?
I’m sure; Orinats Erkir Party will have a weighty participation in the
future parliament though the use of black technologies and non-civil
methods. We are for fair and civilized political struggle, for close
political collaboration with the parties of opposition field. That
collaboration supposes two mechanisms: active pre-electoral and post
electoral collaboration. We have already come to an arrangement
with some political parties to sign bilateral agreement, which
will be transparent for the population. The time will show whether
pre-electoral allies will be formed in Armenia. It is difficult to form
blocs with ambitious parties because the bloc means the existence
of at least three factors: first of all public confidence among
the people, strong construction of party adherents and resources;
human, organizational, financial, political ties etc. All those
forces, which are ready to put their ego for general activities,
we are ready to collaborate with them but I’m not so optimism to see
everything in green light and not so pessimism to see everything in
dark colors. I’m realist and I’m sure there will be unions in Armenia,
the time will show.
It was speaking in time that you were ready to resign but you had to
send in your resignation earlier?
I didn’t have to resign earlier. The responsibility of our party
was to improve people’s life. OEP has declared since the first day
of its formation that we are a political force that demands and
achieves reforms. We haven’t kept silence but struggled for changes
instead. We could keep silence and enjoy as a lot of politicians
do. I have met with the President before my resignation and he hasn’t
demanded my resignation.
Do you believe in fair elections?
I’m not so naive to think that ideal elections will be held in Armenia,
but everybody must understand that nobody has held fair elections
only by words, we should make practice steps.
Some of your former partners declare that OEP acts with the principles
of sect that the members of your party call on the flats and assure
the inhabitants like the sect representatives. Is it so?
There were some publications in the authority-controlled
press. Nowadays the OEP use western technologies adopted by the
modern civilized world irrespective of politicians who use soviet
standards. We use new technologies in our political struggle, we have
active ties with the public, and we work openly.
Common people say that you have left the authority so they can believe
in you, don’t you regret for leaving it?
It wasn’t easy to leave the NA chairman’s position, nowadays people
of political field dream of becoming parliamentarian, minister or
deputy minister, chief of department and even the principal. I left
that position in favor of true reforms, I’m sure we’ll make those
amendments. Democratization of Armenia, Euro integration, shadow
economy, fight against corruption and criminal, free, developing
economy, development of collaboration, social-economic conceptual
reforms; these are first priorities of my party.
Margaret Yesayan