Interview with President of "A1 +" Company Mesrop Movsesyan.
You made a statement in support of the nationwide protests led by Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian. Two days later the media reported that you take a respectable place in Heritage's list of candidates to run in the upcoming elections to the Yerevan Council of Elders. Is there any linkage between these two events?
When I wrote the letter, I had no idea about the list. I learnt about the list and my alleged involvement in it from the media. I wrote the letter of support since I am really concerned about the post-election tensions in the country. Armenia cannot resist another stroke.
I appreciate the struggle waged by Raffi Hovannisian and I am proud that Armenia has citizens like him who care for the country's future. But no one has, until this moment, clearly proposed ways out of the political crisis. This is what I am really concerned about. Our country, which can in no way get rid of shocks, has had many presidents elected by people - Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Stepan Demirtchyan, Vazgen Manukyan - but only one of them took the office. Robert Kocahryan, who came to power in the result of rigged elections, led the country to destruction and today we have to deal with the legacy left by Kocharyan. Serzh Sargsyan can not get rid of that legacy. Nor can he imagine the future developments. I suggest that all these candidates who obtained the vote of confidence of people gather and consider ways for saving the country from the pending collapse. I want them to put aside their ambitions and seriously contemplate over redressing past mistakes.
But many of them cannot simply stand each other...
I'm not interested in it. I do not care about ambitions and emotions, likes and dislikes; I only care about the fate of the people and the escalating emigration.
Does your proposal also concern the Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) Gagik Tsarukyan?
No I do not see him there. Only people, who were legitimately or illegitimately elected as President, are responsible for the current situation
But how can a person, who was elected by people but did not assume office, be held responsible? For example, Stepan Demirtchyan?
Each shock has had its negative impact on the country. If people confided in Demirtchyan [or Levon Ter-Petrosyan] and took to the streets to support them, these candidates are to blame for their failure to take power. Let Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocahryan, who defiled and desecrated this country, correct their mistakes
What about the candidates who garnered fewer votes than their contenders?
No, my proposal only concerns the key players. Rallying people in protest against fraudulent elections and sending them home every time is turning into a meaningless game.
Do you think they can find a common language?
This is their problem. They should feel with their heart and soul that it is the only way out of the situation. If they have been leaders, no matter whether they were in power or not, they must be shoulder responsibility for the country. I want to ask Robert Kocharyan how it happened that the country was plundered. How can we return the stolen property and correct the situation? How long will they shrink responsibility?
If you are involved in the Heritage party list and elected in the forthcoming elections, are you ready to become part of the municipal government?
The list drafted by the Heritage still needs to be approved by people. I am grateful to Raffi Hovannisian for the confidence in me but I have my favourite job. At the same time, I must say that I always stand by people, if the society needs my share, I'm ready to do it.
Did I understand you correctly? If it is a party list, you disapprove of it?
I have never been affiliated with any party, but I have always done my best to help others. Today I am ready to support Raffi Hovannisian but it does not mean that I am a member of his Heritage party. I have my own 'party' - A1+. But if people need my services, I am ready to serve them.
