PRECONDITIONS BLOCK DIALOGUE

During the meeting with the journalists in “Hayeli” club yesterday RPA Press Secretary, member of RPA parliamentary faction Edward Sharmazanov particularly spoke about the possibilities to start negotiations with opposition.

According to the speaker, as a political power RPA is open for the pro-oppositional powers, ready to debate and have a dialogue. “I can’t agree to the statements that our appeals for a dialogue were shots in the air. During his meeting with the voters in February Serge Sargsyan made a clear appeal for a dialogue, without any exception, right up to their involvement in the government program. He called those gathered in Azatutyun Square sisters and brothers. He has already made his appeal and now the ball is in the field of the opposition.
After the appeal the pro-oppositional powers made attempts to usurp power, or mildly speaking to stage a coup d'état. They also announced that these authorities are not legitimate, they are Mongol-Tatars. Whereas I have participated in the hearings of the Constitutional Court, where I didn’t hear any serious substantiation regarding the falsification of the elections. So, who shoots in the air? Definitely not the authorities.”
But what should the authorities discuss with the opposition? According to Edward Sharmazanov, there are lots of topics to be discussed: “Regarding the settlement of Karabakh conflict, economy, high rate of corruption. After all one day we can also turn into opposition.”
Edward Sharmazanov said there was nothing new in the speech made by Levon Ter-Petrosyan on May 2: “Though from the point of view of oratory the speech was different from his pre-election speeches, where there was a clear separation between the select and the traitors, the scum, as well as appeals for undermining the state. But there was no contents. And the appeals for dialogues were followed by certain preconditions.”
There was no desire to accept his share of guilt. “It is not right to teach the society, especially your partners, no matter you are an opposition leader, an MP or the first President. Responsibility is a political category and it is very easy to avoid responsibility.”
Edward Sharmazanov doesn’t share the idea saying that the tasks set by PACE 1609 resolution are unsolvable. ”In my view there are opportunities and the success is visible. Not because it was the initiative of our European counterparts, but because there are two ways for Armenia – regress and democracy.
But democracy is a developing process and it is impossible to record immediate success in this process. In this regard we can achieve success before the PACE session in July and the statement made by the coalition, on May 4, by which the coalition powers, by the leadership of the President, expressed readiness to concentrate on all the vital issues, beginning from the freedom of Press to the judiciary, inspires hope.
But, it’s worth mentioning that not only the authorities but also our political opposition has lots of work to do in this regard.
The atmosphere of distrust still exists in society and as the speaker underscored it is easy to overcome this distrust by free and easy conversations. “We shouldn’t pursue the policy of an ostrich. It is good that the authorities speak about it and it is regrettable that the leaders of the radical opposition make ultimatums instead of proposing dialogue. If the appeals for dialogue include preconditions, it will not be a dialogue. I don’t think the method of nihilism is the right method.”
The speaker strongly believes that all the RA citizens detained without any grounds will be released: “After all we live under the democratic rules of the 21st century. I’m sure those detained without any grounds will soon be released. I condemn any type of the violation of law.
Touching upon the possibility of the formation of the new party “Armenian National Congress” Edward Sharmazanov underscored that he supports the idea of merging the parties acting in the political field. But he considered it less possible. “Why, because many parties have already announced that they are not going join new unions. In my view the unifications should bear an ideological nature. I can’t imagine for example the unification of the liberal Armenian Pan National Movement, the Marxists party and the socialist Hnchakyan party. After all we must understand that the unifications should be around certain ideas rather than individuals.”
NAIRA KHACHATRYAN

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