Armenia is in a bad condition and our stance is quite understandable
Interview with former RA prime minister, NA MP Hrant Bagratyan
-The situation gets very tense in the international arena. A few days ago US announced about its decision to apply sanctions against Russia’s Rosia bank and a number of Russian statesmen. And they say that it is only the beginning. In your opinion, to what extent can this tension affect Armenia?
-It will definitely affect negatively. Any kind of sanctions that will be applied against our partners will indeed affect our economy.
-NA ANC MP Levon Zurabyan stated that ANC supports the self-determination of nations, in fact by repeating the same thing Serzh Sragsyan told Mr. Putin on the phone. Is this the personal opinion of Zurabyan or the official opinion of the ANC?
-How can I say whether this is the opinion of the ANC or not? ANC represents the political force that doesn’t exist now. It means this political matter doesn’t relate to the ANC.
-In regards of the opinion of Armenia on Crimea crisis the ambassadors of the US and UK expressed their concern and “sorrow.” What do you think about these diplomatic impulses? On the March 1 rally you have been very strict to the activities and statements of US Ambassador John Haffern.
-I didn’t speak strictly about Haffern. On March 1 I have spoken very concretely about the statement of Haffern in regards to the pension reform. And I am repeating once again that is not the problem of any ambassador to determine the internal issues of a country especially when this reform in any country has a different shape and content. If our ambassador spoke in Germany about the German pension reform I cannot even imagine what would happen to him. As of the political problem we all know that Armenia also has a self-determination objective with the Karabakh conflict. Therefore, the self-determination of any nation is important to us.
-There is an opinion that Karabakh may follow this prerequisite and might request Armenia to join it. Do you find it feasible?
-No, I don’t think so because the world will not accept the self-determination. The right of self-determination is an international norm but nobody is planning to make it general. In the case of Karabakh we see there is a historical background and a nation living there but the world doesn’t have common standards regarding that matter.
-During the March 1 rally Levon Ter-Petrosyan mentioned that Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union is an irreversible process. Do you agree with that opinion?
-I have clearly expressed my opinion even prior to the presidential race. This matter should only be settled through a referendum in order to make it legitimate and legal.
-A few days ago, Tigran Sargsyan stated in Brussels that EU itself has instigated Armenia to join the CU by its hesitance.
-Perhaps it would be better if you asked this question to Europeans. This hesitance began after September 3 when Sargsyan stated Armenia’s intention to join the CU. Prior to that there was no such matter. Maybe Tigran Sargsyan knows more.
-In Armenia civil movements are gradually becoming more powerful. The pension reform has united major groups. What can be expected from the March 22 rally?
-I am glad that this movement is strengthened. I am one of the supporters and in fact I was one of the first that brought up this matter in the National Assembly back in 2012. We have serious political parties involved in this process now. It is quite clear that this reform as exacerbated many of our citizens.
-Recently the Prime Minister encouraged the civil groups to start a dialogue but as we know there were such meetings, which gave no result. What do you think about that? Do you think this is the last call of desperation?
-I don’t know. I wouldn’t like to assess every step of the Premier. If he was willing to start a dialogue he could have done so with us back in 2012. It turns out that whenever the government feels a threat it offers a dialogue.
-In your opinion, where will this movement get?
-The movement will grow and deepen. The possible limit is that the pension reform will be cancelled.
-But do you think it’s possible? As you said international organizations have worked on it for over 10 years, spent resources, etc.
-There were so many blunders in this reform that no money could save the situation.
-The four political parties joined this movement. They are also planning to present call of distrust to the government in the NA. Do you think Sargsyan Serzh will initiate to disperse the government himself relying on the assumption that the government doesn’t work well?
-It is possible because not only the figures of this year but also the previous one were very sad. There was only 2% economic growth. Foreign trade was short by 6%, export by 3,2%. The slump of industry is 5% in the first months. Serzh Sargsyan can have no doubt that this year the figures will be dire as well.
-If the government eventually resigns and a new government is formed what steps should it undertake to improve the situation?
-You are asking this to a person who has thousands of plans and programs. First we should decentralize the economy. We should increase the role of the small business. We should revise the tax administration. We should establish state investment projects. And we should have intensive public participation in it. And finally we should decide our membership to the CU only through a referendum and we should stop migration.
By Gayane Khachatryan
