Former Armenian Prime Minister Aram Sarkisyan has said that President Robert Kocharyan has become more reliant on
Russia, which is precisely the reason for his own dismissal last
year. He said that the accords signed during Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Armenia proved that Kocharyan
respected Sarkisyan more than before. Sarkisyan said that
during his premiership, Kocharyan obstructed industrial
development, while being interested only in promoting tourism and
the
services sector.
Following is the text of Margarit Yesayan report
by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 18 September entitled
“The president has a problem with timing”
An interview with former Prime Minister Aram Sarkisyan
[Aravot correspondent] The was the first time in the last ten years
that the Russian president officially visited Armenia. A
number of important agreements have been signed. As former premier,
will you please explain the significance of those
agreements?
[Aram Sarkisyan] I have the impression from Vladimir Putin’s visit
and the contracts concluded that President Kocharyan today
respects me more than he did before. If the main reason for my
dismissal was that I had been accused of being pro-Russian,
today Kocharyan showed that he is not only pro-Russian, but fully
Russian. I would like to touch on the agreements.
At the time of my premiership we had the problem of returning the
same Russian debt. When we took the debt we mortgaged
20 per cent of the nuclear power plant’s shares and 20 per cent of
Nairit’s shares. I tried to persuade President Kocharyan that
it would be right to give them directly to Russia, as there was no
money. The reason was the following: 50 per cent of our
energy is in the hands of Russia, and we receive fuel and gas from
Russia. Robert Kocharyan was categorically against this.
Today he unequivocally agreed and announced that this was a correct
step.
As for the military and industrial complex, I would like to say
that the relevant paper had been signed by me. The paper had
been prepared by Vagarshak Arutyunyan during Vazgen Sarkisyan’s
tenure. Twenty-two enterprises were represented. At that
time Vladimir Putin was prime minister and we made an arrangement
concerning 18 enterprises. Why did we agree to that?
Because like it or not, we should consider 50 per cent of our
military complex to be Russian. Here I unequivocally see a
positive development.
[Correspondent] We already know that three Russian companies will
participate in the tender for the privatization of the
Armenian energy distribution networks. This was not possible when
you were prime minister.
[Sarkisyan] During my tenure the energy distribution networks were
extremely politicized. World Bank representative Judy
O’Connor visited me and demanded that the Russian Itera company not
participate in the tender. In this respect Mr Kocharyan
did a brilliant job in favour of the World Bank. My government was
unable to resist and refused the Russian party. This was
one of the reasons why I wanted to dismiss my colleague, Energy
Minister David Zadoyan.
But let us not forget that the problem is not the privatization of
the energy distribution networks, but not giving them to Russia or
the USA. The energy distribution networks are of strategic
importance and I consider giving them away to any other country
extremely dangerous. I had direct talks with Putin on the energy
distribution networks and we agreed that if they are not
privatized, Russia will support us by giving us cheaper energy
resources. Immediately after that I was dismissed from my post.
Today three Russian companies are participating in the tender. I
know what the World Bank, the Council of Europe and the
USA will say about this.
[Correspondent] What is the reason for this sharp turn towards
Russia?
[Sarkisyan] The reason is pressure. We now immediately made
concessions and gave promises to Russia. The promises were
not fixed in a document, simply the president delayed for another
month. However, Russian President Putin and Deputy Prime
Minister Ilya Klebanov were determined to settle these problems.
[Correspondent] The meetings noted that an increase in industrial
production had been registered. You were also dismissed
because of the fact that the industry was not developing.
The same goes for the Agarak factory, whose revival the president
took on himself. If the president reads this interview, he will
remember how he was against this factory’s revival. When I was
premier Robert Kocharyan was only obstructing the
development of the economy. He was only in favour of the
development of tourism and services. He was categorically against
the development of the industrial sphere. If he has changed his
position that means that he agrees with me. I accept this as
positive and welcome it. Better late than never.
[Correspondent] Today parallels are being drawn between 27 October
[Armenian parliament shootings] and the terror action
in the USA.
[Sarkisyan] Yes, even the pro-president mass media said this. But I do not agree with the comparison. In the USA the
president’s ratings have gone up because of the simple reason that
in three hours he gave six interviews, immediately raised the
military complex and declared war on terrorism. Such a thing did
not happen in our country. At a certain point the president
started patronizing the terrorists in our country. Ratings are
formed on the basis of deeds, not empty words. Bush has even
called up the reservists, but in our country the army itself
protected the country from a coup, after which the president
decided to dismiss the defence minister. That is, the functions which he
had to implement to increase his ratings, were implemented by
Vagarshak Arutyunyan and he decided to dismiss him because of
jealousy. Kocharyan has to learn from Bush if he wants to
increase his ratings.
[Correspondent] Now let us speak about the cooperation between your
party, the People’s Party of Armenia and the National
Accord. They say that the leaders of these parties are vying for
the post of Armenian president. Would you like to become
president?
[Sarkisyan] I have never said that I want to become president.
Stepan Demirchyan and Artashes Gegamyan have also never
announced their intention to become president. Only President
Kocharyan said this. Even the pro-president mass media have
realized that the president’s decision to stand for a second term
was a bad mistake and did not touch on it.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.