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INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIA'S ARMENIANS UNION AND WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS ARA ABRAHAMIAN
Translated by L.H.
AZG Armenian Daily #184
10/10/2007
National Interests, Diaspora
- Mr. Abrahamian, interviews with you have become traditional on
the eve of the Days of Russia's Armenians Union and World Armenian
Congress, when you visit Armenia with the delegations of scientists,
doctors, and businessmen, social and political figures. And the first
question is the following - how do you qualify the created situation
in Armenia after the parliamentary elections?
- You are right when you say that our cooperation has become
traditional on the eve of the Days of Russia's Armenians Union and
World Armenian Congress and I am always ready for it. I am happy to
mention that the parliamentary elections in May were well organized
and there was a step forward in that sphere, as the international
society mentioned, and the elections didn't turn into a street fighting
between the authorities and the opposition. Moreover, CIS observers,
representatives of OSCE, PACE and other legal institutions didn't
dispute the results of the elections.
The result of the parliamentary elections was the victory of two
ruling parties: Republican and Prosperous Armenia; and they formed
a government ruled by the Republican Serge Sargsian. And the fact of
having majority in the parliament let the authorities to adopt laws
based on the economic and social programs that were proposed by those
parties during their electoral campaign.
The time of their governance is too short to qualify the ups and downs
of the new government, though it's noticeable that they are working
in special regime, as the presidential elections are in advance
and the leader of the government is one of the real candidates
for the presidency. The government must create conditions for the
support of the electorate with concrete tasks. Anyway, not only the
ruling parties but also the opposition gets ready for the coming
elections. Soon we'll be aware of the results of political maneuvers
and secret agreements. We'll know the names of all candidates for
presidency. And after it the real campaign will start.
- What do you think what kind of economic situation is created in
our country?
- I have tried to speak of that issue several times.
Now I would like to mention that some changes have been recorded in
the economy; an economic growth is recorded according to official
data. Nevertheless, taking into account the whole complex of
difficulties in Armenia, even that growth is not enough to solve very
serious strategic issues. We need a break in those spheres of economy,
which could provide Armenia's leading position in the region, taking
into account its complicated relations with its neighbors and the
factor of blockade. Issues of finding ways of running the blockade
and reestablishment of transport communications are still in agenda,
which would certainly make more favorable conditions for an economic
jump. People say, "Bad conditions make people more inventive". Maybe
the continuing blockade will force Armenia to use the modern means
of communication and Internet more efficiently for development of
informational systems and economy based on science.
The blockade of Armenia is not an obstacle for the Armenian developers,
specialists of high technologies, scientists and economists to
be involved in the sphere of world processes and economy based on
science. Of course, it demands big investments that unfortunately
Armenia does not have at present.
- How can you describe the situation in Russia before the parliamentary
elections, especially when it will be followed by the presidential
elections that will clear up the name of the next president of Russia?
- The political and economic state in Russia is stable. The president
is highly respected among the population. His rating is high and
increased to 80 percent. According to opinion poll, today 40 percent
of the electorate is ready to support the candidate for presidency,
who will be presented by the President Putin. Identified with their
president, leaders of the "United Russia" party anticipate getting
50 percent of votes in coming parliamentary elections. The prospects
of this party widened when Vladimir Putin agreed to lead the list of
the party. The Communist and Just Russia parties are in the second
and third places.
Jirinovski's Liberal-Democratic Party protects its position in
political sphere. The Alliance of Right Power and "Yabloko" are in
bad situation; according to the poll, they have no chance to be in
State Duma. I think that political stability creates conditions for
economic stability.
- How can the elections of Armenia and Russia influence over the
nature of the relations of two countries?
- The elections of Russia and Armenia can hardly influence over the
nature of our two countries' partnership and strategic relations. The
meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and Russian
new Prime Minister V. Zubkov showed the stable nature of the
relations of the two countries. The visit of the Armenian PM was very
productive; the two sides signed an agreement of further development
of cooperation. And that is a guarantee that the elections of Armenia
and Russia will not effect negatively the nature of the two countries'
relations, but also will contribute to their further productive and
profitable trade-economic and strategic-political cooperation.
- As we know, we are on the eve of the presidential elections in
Armenia. The parties haven't officially announced their candidates
for presidency yet, but we approximately picture the names of the
candidates for presidency from the ruling party and opposition. The
situation is peculiar as the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosian is activated after ten years of silence. How do you
qualify the chances of the candidates and who will Russia's Armenians
Union and World Armenian Congress support in the coming presidential
elections?
- Though the passions of the parliamentary elections have calmed down
recently, the main candidates are preparing their electoral offices for
the coming campaign. We know who the main candidates of the authorities
are. I don't want to qualify the chances of each candidate now. We'll
have time for it. I only want to repeat a sentence: it's not important
who will the next president of Armenia be, it's important what kind
of potential and qualifications he will have.
It's an indispensable condition, as the next president of Armenia
must be highly respected by the majority of the population and be
legitimate not only for the Armenian society, but also for Diaspora
and International society.
- Taking into account good relations between you and the Armenian
PM Serge Sargsian, who will probably be the candidate of the ruling
party, will you support him in the coming elections? Or maybe you
will support Artur Baghdasarian or Levon Ter-Petrosian?
- Actually, I have good relations with all political parties:
Dashnaktsutiun, Republican, etc., I don't hide my warm friendly
relations with Armenian PM Serge Sargsian. I have the greatest respect
for the first president Levon Ter-Petrosian, and I have also good
relations with Arthur Baghdasarian. Anyway, in this case I would
like the electoral process to go on within the law, in conditions of
stability. I would like the candidates to propose detailed programs of
social-economic development and settlement of vitally important issues
of foreign policy of the country. Of course, before the elections I
will express my opinion taking into account the programs of this or
that candidate and his potential of getting over the problems, as the
settlement of those issues is a matter of the greatest importance to
our people.
- And the last question -many questions arose in Armenia recently
in connection 1with your appeal to the Armenian Procurator General,
which demanded to punish the kidnapper-criminals in the territory of
the Russian Federation. What was the reason of that appeal and did
you demand to punish concrete people?
- Russia's Armenians Union often gets requests of help and we help
people within our power. The most unpleasant thing is that in Moscow
and in other parts of Russia Armenians square accounts with each
other, i.e. the recent incident with the Armenian deputy in the hotel
"Metropol".
These kinds of incidents cause serious harm to our community. And I
considered it necessary to appeal the Armenian Procurator General
in order the Armenian authorities solve this problem and prevent
repetition of similar crimes. I think that it's the business of
the General Procurator's office to reveal concrete trespassers and
punish them.
I want to underline that we'll struggle against all the phenomena
that cause harm to the positive picture of the Armenians and Armenian
community in Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Translated by L.H.
AZG Armenian Daily #184
10/10/2007
National Interests, Diaspora
- Mr. Abrahamian, interviews with you have become traditional on
the eve of the Days of Russia's Armenians Union and World Armenian
Congress, when you visit Armenia with the delegations of scientists,
doctors, and businessmen, social and political figures. And the first
question is the following - how do you qualify the created situation
in Armenia after the parliamentary elections?
- You are right when you say that our cooperation has become
traditional on the eve of the Days of Russia's Armenians Union and
World Armenian Congress and I am always ready for it. I am happy to
mention that the parliamentary elections in May were well organized
and there was a step forward in that sphere, as the international
society mentioned, and the elections didn't turn into a street fighting
between the authorities and the opposition. Moreover, CIS observers,
representatives of OSCE, PACE and other legal institutions didn't
dispute the results of the elections.
The result of the parliamentary elections was the victory of two
ruling parties: Republican and Prosperous Armenia; and they formed
a government ruled by the Republican Serge Sargsian. And the fact of
having majority in the parliament let the authorities to adopt laws
based on the economic and social programs that were proposed by those
parties during their electoral campaign.
The time of their governance is too short to qualify the ups and downs
of the new government, though it's noticeable that they are working
in special regime, as the presidential elections are in advance
and the leader of the government is one of the real candidates
for the presidency. The government must create conditions for the
support of the electorate with concrete tasks. Anyway, not only the
ruling parties but also the opposition gets ready for the coming
elections. Soon we'll be aware of the results of political maneuvers
and secret agreements. We'll know the names of all candidates for
presidency. And after it the real campaign will start.
- What do you think what kind of economic situation is created in
our country?
- I have tried to speak of that issue several times.
Now I would like to mention that some changes have been recorded in
the economy; an economic growth is recorded according to official
data. Nevertheless, taking into account the whole complex of
difficulties in Armenia, even that growth is not enough to solve very
serious strategic issues. We need a break in those spheres of economy,
which could provide Armenia's leading position in the region, taking
into account its complicated relations with its neighbors and the
factor of blockade. Issues of finding ways of running the blockade
and reestablishment of transport communications are still in agenda,
which would certainly make more favorable conditions for an economic
jump. People say, "Bad conditions make people more inventive". Maybe
the continuing blockade will force Armenia to use the modern means
of communication and Internet more efficiently for development of
informational systems and economy based on science.
The blockade of Armenia is not an obstacle for the Armenian developers,
specialists of high technologies, scientists and economists to
be involved in the sphere of world processes and economy based on
science. Of course, it demands big investments that unfortunately
Armenia does not have at present.
- How can you describe the situation in Russia before the parliamentary
elections, especially when it will be followed by the presidential
elections that will clear up the name of the next president of Russia?
- The political and economic state in Russia is stable. The president
is highly respected among the population. His rating is high and
increased to 80 percent. According to opinion poll, today 40 percent
of the electorate is ready to support the candidate for presidency,
who will be presented by the President Putin. Identified with their
president, leaders of the "United Russia" party anticipate getting
50 percent of votes in coming parliamentary elections. The prospects
of this party widened when Vladimir Putin agreed to lead the list of
the party. The Communist and Just Russia parties are in the second
and third places.
Jirinovski's Liberal-Democratic Party protects its position in
political sphere. The Alliance of Right Power and "Yabloko" are in
bad situation; according to the poll, they have no chance to be in
State Duma. I think that political stability creates conditions for
economic stability.
- How can the elections of Armenia and Russia influence over the
nature of the relations of two countries?
- The elections of Russia and Armenia can hardly influence over the
nature of our two countries' partnership and strategic relations. The
meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and Russian
new Prime Minister V. Zubkov showed the stable nature of the
relations of the two countries. The visit of the Armenian PM was very
productive; the two sides signed an agreement of further development
of cooperation. And that is a guarantee that the elections of Armenia
and Russia will not effect negatively the nature of the two countries'
relations, but also will contribute to their further productive and
profitable trade-economic and strategic-political cooperation.
- As we know, we are on the eve of the presidential elections in
Armenia. The parties haven't officially announced their candidates
for presidency yet, but we approximately picture the names of the
candidates for presidency from the ruling party and opposition. The
situation is peculiar as the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosian is activated after ten years of silence. How do you
qualify the chances of the candidates and who will Russia's Armenians
Union and World Armenian Congress support in the coming presidential
elections?
- Though the passions of the parliamentary elections have calmed down
recently, the main candidates are preparing their electoral offices for
the coming campaign. We know who the main candidates of the authorities
are. I don't want to qualify the chances of each candidate now. We'll
have time for it. I only want to repeat a sentence: it's not important
who will the next president of Armenia be, it's important what kind
of potential and qualifications he will have.
It's an indispensable condition, as the next president of Armenia
must be highly respected by the majority of the population and be
legitimate not only for the Armenian society, but also for Diaspora
and International society.
- Taking into account good relations between you and the Armenian
PM Serge Sargsian, who will probably be the candidate of the ruling
party, will you support him in the coming elections? Or maybe you
will support Artur Baghdasarian or Levon Ter-Petrosian?
- Actually, I have good relations with all political parties:
Dashnaktsutiun, Republican, etc., I don't hide my warm friendly
relations with Armenian PM Serge Sargsian. I have the greatest respect
for the first president Levon Ter-Petrosian, and I have also good
relations with Arthur Baghdasarian. Anyway, in this case I would
like the electoral process to go on within the law, in conditions of
stability. I would like the candidates to propose detailed programs of
social-economic development and settlement of vitally important issues
of foreign policy of the country. Of course, before the elections I
will express my opinion taking into account the programs of this or
that candidate and his potential of getting over the problems, as the
settlement of those issues is a matter of the greatest importance to
our people.
- And the last question -many questions arose in Armenia recently
in connection 1with your appeal to the Armenian Procurator General,
which demanded to punish the kidnapper-criminals in the territory of
the Russian Federation. What was the reason of that appeal and did
you demand to punish concrete people?
- Russia's Armenians Union often gets requests of help and we help
people within our power. The most unpleasant thing is that in Moscow
and in other parts of Russia Armenians square accounts with each
other, i.e. the recent incident with the Armenian deputy in the hotel
"Metropol".
These kinds of incidents cause serious harm to our community. And I
considered it necessary to appeal the Armenian Procurator General
in order the Armenian authorities solve this problem and prevent
repetition of similar crimes. I think that it's the business of
the General Procurator's office to reveal concrete trespassers and
punish them.
I want to underline that we'll struggle against all the phenomena
that cause harm to the positive picture of the Armenians and Armenian
community in Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress