Oskanian’s ‘Revelation’
Vartan Oskanian, former RA Minister of Foreign Affairs, “Prosperous Armenia” Party MP, after a long period in the shadow, seethed political community with his statements yesterday. He confirmed the circulating news on establishing a political party.
Oskanian—one of the pillars of RA second president Robert Kocharyan, however, stated that establishment of a political party has no connection to Robert Kocharyan, however, he doesn’t separate himself from Kocharyan.
“I don’t have such a problem. I’m going to obtain people’s vote by the resource of Vartan Oskanian, with our to-dos and big program,” Oskanian told reporters at the National Assembly.
According to him R.Kocharyan’s regime had both lots of shortcomings and big success, especially against the background of current economic situation and foreign policy. In his conviction, Armenian nation mainly positively memorizes that period, and there is no need to blacken everything.
To the question whether Kocharyan’s name will help his party, Oskanian replied that the party will be initiated, they’ll work and public will assess. He didn’t detail who members of the party will be. To the question whether former PAP members Stepan Margaryan, Vahe Hovhannisyan or Elinar Vardanyan will be included, Oskanian said, “I’ll neither confirm nor deny. After final decision is made, you’ll be informed of it.”
Oskanian, who is associated with March 1 events, currently tries to get rid of this burden by all means, and himself calls March 1 a “black page,” and the then authorities—responsible for that. He announced in the Parliament that authorities shouldn’t have let this occur. To those blaming him Oskanian advised to refresh memory, as his speech was 3-4 hours before the shootings, “Just feeling in the air, that the situation is tense, and likewise development may occur, I tried to prevent it. I’m advantageously distinguished from other politicians, who assumed that responsibility, I had the courage to stand before the camera and call on RA president and opposition to enter into a dialogue, so that we avoided March 1.” According to him, the agenda of the political party to be established by him, will be revealing of March 1, “Law enforcement should cover the issue. The more transparent likewise issues are the better it’ll be for our further developments.”
Levon Zurabyan, Head of ANC faction, in an interview with 168.am qualified Oskanian’s claim of revealing March 1 as “very well”. “Uncovering of March 1 has initially been set by us, and those joining it, are only welcomed,” he said.
To the question whether it wasn’t ridiculous that Oskanian considers himself not responsible for March 1, and whether authorities should bear responsibility for what had happened, and a Minister of a separate branch, e.g. economy or foreign affairs—no, L.Zurabyan replied, “Authorities bear collective political responsibility, and for exact crime exact people bear responsibility, when we’ll have a normal legal state, and everybody will get his/her part of responsibility.”
L.Zurabyan isn’t concerned whether Oskanian’s party and ANC will cooperate or compete, “I don’t want at all to fix on that issue, as for us, in fact, exists one opponent, it’s the regime that exists in Armenia.” However, according to L.Zurabyan, if Oskanian signs ANC claims platform on Electoral Code, he doesn’t see any problem.
According to Eduard Sharmazanov, RA NA Deputy Speaker, regarding all processes authorities are responsible in any case, “But the responsible and the guilty are different things. Investigation is being held, I don’t want to interfere into legal affairs, however, there is an unwritten law—for political processes first and foremost authorities are the guilty.”
To the question when the authorities will bear that responsibility, so that people felt it as well, NA Deputy Speaker replied, “Responsibility is implemented in different ways. It’s not mandatorily an imprisonment or any other legal implication. By saying responsibility I mean political responsibility. And any political responsibility is charged with elections before the public. If people positively assess activity by the authorities, and votes “yes”, and if not, it won’t vote for the Republican Party. There won’t be any big tragedy here.”
Regarding Oskanian’s observations on positive and negative results of Kocharyan’s presidency, Sharmazanov reminded that RPA has been responsible for political processes since 1999. In the period of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency chairman of the Parliament was Andranik Margaryan, the then head of Republican Party of Armenia.
Vahe Hovhannisyan, PAP MP, regarded among the first ones to get invitation for membership in Oskanian’s party, hasn’t got the invitation yet. According to him Vartan Oskanian has all the rights to establish his own political party in Armenia. “By founding a political party, considerable changes will be recorded in Armenia’s political field, second, third and fourth places will be clarified, and cards of everyone, slightly said, will be mingled,” he anticipated.
Like V.Oskanian, V.Hovhannisyan also denied engagement of former RA MFA in March 1, “The only person, not having any liaison with March 1, is Vartan Oskanian. All those being a part of authorities and on the other side of barricades, have their part of responsibility.”
According to V.Hovhannisyan, it’s not moral to speculate that topic. He assured that he’s one of the interested persons, that the tragedy was uncovered till the end, “It’s not only a matter of legal system. Why in our city, in our country society was that much barricaded, it’s a deeper issue.”
Elinar Vardanyan, PAP MP, didn’t get the invitation for membership either. “After I have the invitation, I’ll discuss it, I don’t deny anything,” she said.
E.Vardanyan welcomed Oskanian’s initiative. According to her, Oskanian had a crucial role in Armenia’s policy. E.Vardanyan instigated not to speculate the issue that Oskanian’s name is linked to March 1.
By Gayane Khachatryan
