From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Jun 27 2002 - 10:03:36 EDT
Armenian opposition leader says society "can no longer bear authority"
The leader of the People's Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan, has
denounced the authority for the way it handled the recent standoff in
parliament. Speaking to the Yerevan daily Aravot, Demirchyan said that this
showed that the authority had again chosen the path of illegality, threats
and blackmail. He said that Armenian society expected the opposition to
unite ahead of the 2003 presidential elections, as it could no longer bear
such an authority. The following is the text of Margarit Yesayan report by
Armenian newspaper Aravot on 25 June entitled "Society is expecting
unification, says the leader of the People's Party of Armenia, Stepan
Demirchyan":
An interview with Stepan Demirchyan
[Aravot correspondent] How do you assess the recent events in parliament and
around it, and the actions of the authority in this direction?
[Stepan Demirchyan] The recent events have unmasked the face of the
authorities once again. This authority has once again chosen the path of
illegality, threats and blackmail, which has no prospects. The authority's
own moves are deepening the mistrust of the people.
[Correspondent] You say that the goal of the opposition should be to present
an alternative. However, the 13 parties have been together for a long time
but so far they have not come up with a common programme and a common
candidate.
[Demirchyan] The views of the cooperating parties coincide on many issues.
There are certainly also differences in the programmes of the parties, but
this should not be an obstacle to cooperation. Today society expects
unification, and the parties should understand that. The People's Party of
Armenia will promote the process of unification.
[Correspondent] Artashes Gegamyan announced that it was possible that some
parties could come forward with a joint candidate, but suddenly betray this
candidate and join [President Robert] Kocharyan's side. Is that possible?
[Demirchyan] Let us not speak beforehand. Theoretically nothing may be ruled
out. But today there are no grounds for such assumptions.
[Correspondent] Mr Demirchyan, at very important moments for the opposition,
you are either operated on or are visiting the USA. By the way, some
articles in the said that in the USA you had meetings with many prominent
Armenians, including former Prime Minister Armen Sarkisyan.
[Demirchyan] Some mass media are again speculating on my visit to the USA,
which is again nonsense as in the case of my previous visit. My visit to
the USA was a private one. As for Armen Sarkisyan, I met him in an Armenian
church, that was not a scheduled meeting.
As for the operation, doctors, not political events, decide when to operate
a patient.
[Correspondent] Some representatives of the authorities spread rumours about
your secret contacts. What is the objective of such meetings? Are they
connected with the "mines" which [head of political council of Anrapetutyun
party and ex-mayor of Yerevan] Albert Bazeyan spoke about?
[Demirchyan] The activity of the People's Party of Armenia should be
assessed on the basis of the party's public activity, its statements etc.
As for "mines", the working style of today's authority is the biggest
"mine" for itself.
We can have meetings with different people, but we do not need secret games.
[Correspondent] The authorities are accusing the opposition of trying to
come to power through speculation.
[Demirchyan] The problems which the opposition raises today worry the whole
of society. When demands are made for public discussion of the activity of
structures connected with the 27 October case [1999 parliament shootings],
is that political speculation? It is evident that these structures have
violated their duties. On the whole, this authority shifts the blame for
all its failures on the opposition or some conditions. And when the
opposition points to the mistakes of the authority, they say that we want
power. And finally, how can the country be left in the hands of the
authority, during whose tenure the main law of the country - the
constitution - is violated, numerous political murders go unsolved,
corruption is flourishing, shameful privatization processes are taking
place, and nobody is responsible. Society cannot bear such an authority any
more, and this has nothing to do with speculation.
[Correspondent] Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan also speaks of
speculation. He describes those who always recall 27 October as masochists.
[Demirchyan] To be constructive in the matter of solving the terrorist
action and to be a masochist are two quite different things. Not only the
relatives of those who were killed need full disclosure, this is also very
important for our state. As for forms of masochism, they differ in our
society. For example, we see devotion to Robert Kocharyan by men who used
to abuse him the most, as masochism.
Source: Aravot, Yerevan, in Armenian 25 Jun 02 p2
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