Stepan Margaryan: I am frequently asked whether Kocharyan is returning to politics or not (video)
Armenian lawmaker Stepan Margaryan says he could not understand from the latest talks on the Karabakh conflict what exactly is placed on the negotiating table. “We often hear the Armenian side speaking about concessions. We understand what we mean by saying concessions but it is not clear yet what Azerbaijan is going to concede and give us,” the member of “Hamakhmbum” (Consolidation) Party told journalists during the parliamentary briefings today. While the lawmaker says Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan expressed general opinions on the resolution of the conflict in his latest interview, he calls special attention to the controversial Madrid Principles signed during his presidency. “Many hold a negative opinion about the Madrid Principles but this was the first document in the history to fix the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh through a referendum. It also spoke about the territory and its population.” People criticize each and every interview given by the former president. Mr. Margaryan believes that it is done deliberately by the press. “Whenever Kocharyan gives an interview or expresses an opinion, people immediately begin to speak about his return. I am frequently asked whether he is going to return to politics or not. I wonder what connection there can be between his interviews and his plans. I do not know. He is a political figure who has had a great contribution to the county. Why aren’t you equally surprised by the interviews of other political figures? I find it absurd!” Many think that Kocharyan is paving the way for his return through his interviews and the Hamakhmbum Party. “Let us wait and see. I do not want to draw conclusions based on assumptions. We have announced about the formation of the party and the names of its leaders. We have not given Kocharyan’s name,” he said. Mr. Margaryan does not rule out that Kocharyan’s administration also made mistakes but he thinks that one should not try to justify the wrong things of our days.
