168TVof “Zara has a question” the guest of the program  Hrant Bagratyan is the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the Chairman of Azatutyun Party. 

During the interview, the politician made observations about the pre-election period, possible post-election prospects, spoke about Armenia’s regional and geopolitical opportunities. Some excerpts from the interview are below:

• The West, together with Turkey and Azerbaijan, is trying to derail Armenia, and Armenia’s path is, however, to be in a certain economic area, EAEU, good relations with Russia and Iran (Armenia ruined it), relations with China, at the same time quite good relations with Europe. Russia says: integrate with Europe as much as you want, do whatever you want, I don’t care. The West, on the contrary. he says: you will get close to the Turks, and you will shake hands with Russia, China and Iran.

• I want to remind you that in 2018, after Nikol Pashinyan was accepted as Prime Minister, Bolton came here (Trump was the president at that time) and said: close the road to Iran.

• Let’s get one thing straight. Democracy and dictatorship in Europe changed their places long ago. It is not the Europe of 20-25 years ago.

• The Americans have a way to save TRIPP: to cooperate with the Russians, and Armenia has a way to say: let’s cooperate with the Russians. Pashinyan understands that if he is not there after June 7, the new authorities, in order not to be embarrassed by the paper signed on August 8, will have to think of a way to involve the Russians.
• As of today, Samvel Karapetyan is clearly defeating Nikol Pashinyan, and the problem of the opposition is that on the 7th of the month, Samvel Karapetyan, Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan should join hands so that their votes do not run away. The opposition will win with approximately this ratio, headed by Samvel Karapetyan: 60-65 percent, at least, Nikol Pashinyan’s bloc – 35-40. This is with the participation of 60 percent or more of citizens.

• There will be no power of Nikol Pashinyan on the 8th of the month. don’t doubt for a minute, don’t doubt for a minute, or else on the 7th of the month, they will start massive fights in the precincts, blaming the opposition. The opposition should beware of this. Let’s say, in any precinct they attack Tsarukyan’s representatives, the other 2 must protect him. Lights will be turned off, you will see…

• Azerbaijan imagines the territory of Armenia to be 27,000 km2 at best, and 12,000 at worst. Out of those 27, 15, Syunik and Vardenis, intends to settle Azerbaijanis, and thinks that they will be decided later, they will hold a referendum, they will join Azerbaijan, because in these geopolitical conditions, attacking and occupying will not work. At least, for now there is a Russian base that will protect us.

• Let him stand up and say: Azerbaijanis will not come, and if Azerbaijan wants 300,000 (although that number is unclear: in 1979 it was 165,000), then in that case 530,000 Armenians will have to return to Baku, Karabakh. Let him stand up and say.

• If we leave the EAEU, we won’t have gas, not that gas will be expensive, but we won’t have it at all. In other words, there will be a little gas in the amount of 20 percent, and it will come from Iran. We cannot pump 3 billion cubic meters of gas to Armenia through that gas pipeline. If we completely give up Russian liquid oil products, which is 97% of the market today, Azerbaijan does not have a reserve to replace it, there is simply no price, give it whatever you want. Where will we get the wheat from? In addition, last year, for example, we received 5 billion 900 million dollars in transfers from Russia. This will not happen.

• Turkey is not a good trade partner for us because our economies are symmetrical. Expansion will take place.

• Peace is possible only when Azerbaijan, in the face of Armenia, sees a strongly organized state. He will understand that he cannot enter just like that, occupying a village or a city.

• In the 8 years of their rule, poverty dropped from 23.5% to 21.7%. In Georgia, for example, poverty is 11%, in Azerbaijan – 6%. In all respects, before he came to power, Armenia was in a better condition than Georgia or Azerbaijan.

• Pensions actually decreased.

• Its economic success is a disgrace, it’s a shame, people, it’s a shame, you brought yourself to this state, it’s a shame, this kind of leadership with such “unprecedented” lies.

Details in the video

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