“We should State on Recognition of Karabakh as a Punishment”
Interview with Hrant Bagratyan, NA MP, former RA Prime Minister.
Mr. Bagratyan, the draft law on “Recognition of Artsakh Republic” submitted by you and Zaruhi Postanjyan had a wide response, both for and against opinions were heard, it bothered many in Russia, and Levon Ter-Petrosyan named the draft law an “imprudent initiative.” What do you think, should the draft law be adopted now?
The draft law should be adopted now, every day it alienates us from it. Azerbaijan provided us a great opportunity to adopt the draft law, as an agreement was reached on ceasefire, and Azerbaijan has violated it, and we didn’t see a single country to condemn that violation. And as it violated, and passed on to attack and failed, and not reaching success is equal to defeat, and observing that no state condemned Azerbaijan, we should declare as a punishment, that we recognize Karabakh. This will be very proper and sensible decision. And what do our authorities say? They say, not this time, next time. But if it next time enters Stepanakert, should it reach to Yerevan? Why next time? As for assessments by various people, every person does his/her job. What is publicly said doesn’t mean he/she really thinks so.
Grounding of those, who are against, is that recognition will lead to a wide-scale war and arrows of the international community will be directed not against Azerbaijan, but against Armenia.
The international community this time again, although it was Azerbaijan, that violated the ceasefire, it directed arrows against us. Thus, Union of Islamic States—57 states, condemned us, when we were attacked. There was not a single Christian state to protect us and state, that Azerbaijan is wrong. There was no such an assessment. Moreover, it wasn’t enough that Azerbaijan attacked us, Turkey announced that Armenia should know its place, otherwise it’ll show us. And nobody made a statement against Turkey.
This means, despite the reflection by the international community, in any case, do you consider NK independence should be recognized and not postponed?
We should adopt the draft law and it shouldn’t be postponed, as when they attack, they’ll do it without considering our factor. Simply this time they were defeated, they need time to come to their senses for another attack.
What will be adoption followed by?
Nothing is changing, we continue negotiating. By recognizing Karabakh’s independence, we say, that at least in the end of negotiations we should have independent Karabakh Republic. Moreover, we accept Karabakhi borders as enshrined in current NKR Constitution.
Mr. Bagratyan, your statement on Armenia’s possession of nuclear weaponry was sensational. Will you clarify what did you mean?
I’m not going to clarify anything. I said what I said. It’s true, and I don’t want to repeat that.
After the April events the authorities touch upon the necessity of changes: Hovik Abrahamyan stated that at the Governmental session that it’s time to readjust shortcomings. In your opinion, is there really a change of situation, and what it may give?
As I know the Government doesn’t have an action plan.
After assuming the post of the PM Hovik Abrahamyan called the businessmen to come out of shadow, club of prime ministers was established, and currently H.Abrahamyan urges everyone to submit proposals on necessary changes and send them to David Harutyunyan’s e-mail. What does this mean? And what may be expected from this initiative?
What may we expect? If they’re waiting for proposals, then as an MP, I’m making these proposals openly, they may implement them. At least my recent post on Facebook. Let me bring a concrete example: not the customs officer should decide the price, i.e. fair values shouldn’t be applied. As for the club of prime ministers, when they invite us, we go. However, I was invited to the club only once. And although we are representatives of the opposition, when we’re asked what to do, we express our opinion. There are economic issues. We are not almighty, but when we say something, we say them based on serious grounds.
Currently they decided to fight against monopolies.
They have said it for 20 years and will say until their time passes. Fight against monopoly means bringing a law, introducing amendments in the legislation and levy 50-95%. This was written in 100 steps and in my presidential plan. If you voted for me, I’d do that. It’s not by saying.
Why wasn’t it implemented until now?
As they built the state on it, they can’t build economy on public enterprises. If we eliminate them, we’ll become a state of small enterprises. Such a state can’t exist now. Here a state for 15 people should be available, controlled by the president of the Republic.
They state there is a political will and changes will be implemented.
There is no political will. In this period, while they’re talking of will, almost all high-ranking officials have become monopolist oligarchs in all the fields of economy. What are they talking about? It’s a lie. And should they do something now?
The authorities state that the rich have accumulated their wealth legally.
Almost no one accumulated wealth legally. Presently copper, molybdenum, other fossils are sold with cheap prices through offshore companies, and money is kept abroad.
The issue of the Government and reduction of expenditures has been raised, however, the number of advisors of RA president, NA chairman, PM won’t reduce, and service cars are being touched upon until now, however, nobody refused them.
1.5 year ago I raised this issue. There is one service car in Connecticut, USA, and in Armenia, if I’m not mistaken—1360 in 2014. In case, when presently 400-450 cars are enough. We raised that issue long ago, but we recorded no result. The same will occur now, nothing will change.
By Gayane Khachatryan
