“Kocharyan is referring to Serzh Sargsyan”
Political scientist Hmayak Hovhannisyan believes Robert Kocharyan's latest interview requires serious study in order to predict future political developments in Armenia.
"Kocharyan is alluding that he had an agreement with Serzh Sargsyan. He is saying that he gave himself the green light to join the HHK (Republican Party of Armenia) and the allusion is that he gave Serzh Sargsyan the green light to join the party as well. Kocharyan agreed under the condition that he is no longer going to be a counterbalance to the pretensions for the HHK's monopoly, but that counterbalance will be the BHK (Prosperous Armenia Party)," said the political scientist.
According to Hmayak Hovhannisyan, Robert Kocharyan's interview a day before the BHK's congress means that "Robert Kocharyan is reminding Serzh Sargsyan that there had been an agreement between them." "When Robert Kocharyan says some political figures have a short-term memory, he is smart enough to understand that among the leaders of the HHK there is only one person to blame and that is Serzh Sargsyan. The rest are executors. Robert Kocharyan is not exaggerating when he says he was the one who determined the party's list."
Mr. Hovhannisyan assures that he knew chairman of the HHK Andranik Margaryan very well. "There was a time when Andranik Margaryan was against the appointment of Artur Baghdasaryan to the office of NA Chairman, but Robert Kocharyan visited the HHK office, took part in the board session and imposed Artur Baghdasaryan's nomination. Andranik Margaryan always had a negative attitude toward Artur Baghdasaryan, but Robert Kocharyan managed to reach his desired solution in order to create a counterbalance in the HHK."
Hmayak Hovhannisyan notes that Robert Kocharyan contradicted himself in his interview, saying that the HHK has a monopoly on the one hand and talking about fair elections and competition on the other hand. "If Robert Kocharyan finds that a political party should not have a monopoly and if he was preparing Serzh Sargsyan as an inheritor, how did he give his consent to Serzh Sargsyan's integration into the HHK and having him become a co-chair of the HHK with powers equal to those of Andranik Margaryan?"
Hmayak Hovhannisyan is rest assured that Robert Kocharyan will use his "basket" that he placed in the HHK If the agreement between Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan is infringed.
The political scientist considers HHK vice-chairman Galust Sahakyan's comment on Robert Kocharyan's interview important. "Mr. Sahakyan says ‘yes, the HHK received great privileges and used those privileges to maintain stability in the country. But what does the "stability" at the price of receiving great privileges mean today?"
Hmayak Hovhannisyan sees three preconditions for holding fair elections in Armenia. "First, Serzh Sargsyan must resign. Secondly, the HHK must be disbanded like the authorities of Tunis and finally, there has to be social upheaval, which will put an end to the role of the HHK as a monopolist. Apparently, Robert Kocharyan is describing the situation where the HHK has a political monopoly which the HHK has to reject or must be imposed to reject."
