TER-PETROSSIAN: “CLEAN THE AUGEAN STABLE!”
Support A1+!“I have come here to erect bridges and not to burn them. Burning bridges is easier,” said Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian while addressing the fifth conference of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party on July 11.
The Armenian Premier highly appreciates the role of the only opposition force, the Zharangutiun Party, in the country’s political life. “The party acquires extra responsibility for its supporters, extra-parliamentary opposition and the country,” he said.
“Armenia needs a strong opposition, strong leadership, strong society and strong country,” noted Tigran Sarkissian. He reiterated Serzh Sarkissian’s appeal made on February 26 and called for solidarity.
Tigran Sarkissian says their aim is to build up a lawful and democratic state; therefore it is necessary to lay the stress on dividing rather than on uniting points.
He urges not to allow the common aims to be wasted in the furnace of disagreement and turn into a subject of political speculations. “It is time for solidarity and cooperation,” he said.
Today’s conference was attended by the leaders of the opposition, Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun Bureau Hrant Margarian, Commander of a Shushi Special Battalion Zhirair Sefilian and many others.
Tigran Sarkissian’s speech was followed by Zhirair Sefilian’s address. Hardly had Sefilian started when Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrossian entered the hall. He shook hands with Raffi Hovannissian, Vardan Khachatrian, Anahit Bakshian, Zhirair Sefilian, Tigran Sarkissian and other delegates of the conference.
In his speech Levon Ter-Petrossian viewed the role of the Zharangutiun Party in the context of the political situation and the popular movement. Ter-Petrossian highly appreciated the party and said without the Zharangutiun the attainments of the popular movement both in the pre-election and post-election periods would be modest.
He highlighted the great work carried out by the Zharangutiun with regard to the March 1 unrest and the protection of political prisoners’ rights. “The party struggles against this bureaucratic regime on its own,” he said.
Levon Ter-Petrossian also highlighted the role of the parliament faction of the Zharangutiun. He feels sorry that the party has to work in a parliament where the majority are criminals, like in all other institutions of public administration.
Ter-Petrossian’s speech was frequently interrupted by warm and loud applauses.
Then Levon Ter-Petrossian unexpectedly addressed Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian who was sitting in the front row. “Criminal prevails in each institution of public administration, therefore I extend my compassion to you because you have inherited a heavy heritage, and it is your duty to clean out the Augean stable.”
The first president also noted that Tigran Sarkissian is a professional economist and is well aware of the problems the country faces today.
The first President also spoke of the Popular Movement and the Congress of Supporting forces.
The Armenian PM had to listen to Ter-Petrossian’s speech to the end. Tigran Sarkissian seemed a little confused: he could neither leave the hall nor listen to the authorities’ misdeeds over the past ten years. He departed immediately after Ter-Petrossian’s speech.
