"Kocharyan left, but the history remains"
ANC supporter, actor Yervand Manaryan has great expectations from the ANC's rally at Freedom Square.
"We've seen other rallies on television when people are gathered from different parts, but the ANC's rallies are gaining momentum. Today's rally is going to be significant, even in the sense that it goes to show that the people stand up and get what they want," Mr. Manaryan told "A1+". Manaryan doesn't believe the people have met their objectives, but is certain that important steps have already been taken.
Manaryan says in the past three years, there have been times when he has been disappointed with the ANC and has demanded decisive steps from the ANC. According to him, there is more required of the ANC supporters than the members.
To describe his state and feelings more clearly, Manaryan referred to a Russian intellectual by the name of Polima Prutkov who said that you could breathe deeply in a room with no air, but not very deeply. Manaryan says our times are like a room with no air.
"We are just starting to breathe, it's a process. We have to open a door and a window, but it takes time. My contemporaries and I sensed that the air has to be conditioned, but the youth came and said we need to open doors and windows."
Mr. Manaryan is more than certain that there is no alternative to snap elections in Armenia. "I am a member of the Forum of Intellectuals. Once we issued a statement stating that this National Assembly was illegitimate. Robert Kocharyan publicly announced that he was preparing to allow four political forces to enter the NA. That announcement turned the NA illegitimate. He had sworn by the Bible and the Constitution. True, we forgive him by the Bible, but not the Constitution. He had sworn that everyone would be equal and then said these four would enter the NA. None of those four parties objected and didn't say they had an electorate. Everyone is following that model."
Mr. Manaryan says nothing changed after Robert Kocharyan left. "He ended his term in office, but the history remains. He is not in office, but there are deputies whom he helped get elected."
Manaryan still doesn't know whether he will speak at the ANC rally or not. "I always have the desire to speak, but it is a matter of rules and regulations."
The ANC will hold a rally today at 19:00 at Freedom Square.
