Those who died in war did not want the Armenia we live in, says hero activist

Sasun Mikaelyan, a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and a former political prisoner, has spent this New Year at home in Armenia as he always does. Speaking to Tert.am, the hero activist said he isn’t in the habit of leaving the country at this time of the year. “I don’t like formalities like this; one has to celebrate New Year at home,” he told our correspondent. Asked to comment on the current situation in Armenia, Mikaelyan said he doesn’t think it is what the heroes who shed blood in the war expected.

The full interview is provided below.

Summing up the past year, to what extent do you think it was favorable, especially for the freedom fighters who launched a campaign [for their rights]?

Nothing has changed. Nothing will be achieved unless there is consolidation, unless all the freedom fighters unite their efforts and realize that it is now time to stand up for a struggle against this government. What is the difference? There is now a struggle inside, so we must fight and win. The incumbent authorities are, in the strictest sense of the word, selling our country and the lands we have liberated. The guys, who gave their lives at the sacrifice for their country, did not want this kind of Armenia.

Which year do you consider the most favorable for the country since gaining independence?

[The period] when [late Defense Minister] Vazgen Sargsyan was with us. We realized we were building a fatherland and making our country prosperous. But whatever was good vanished after he was gone. Evil came to dominate this country. Up until 1994, this country was facing a war, but there was belief as people were waiting for tomorrow. But that tomorrow appeared more cruel, unfortunately.

What positive expectations do you have, nonetheless?

For some reason, I am positively disposed. So I expect the new year to be better for our people, because it cannot be worse than this. I wish our people to be consolidated and to restore their trust. May all the ideas you had – in the period when we launched the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] Movement - come true this year. All our victories – not only nowadays, but also in the course of history – have been achieved due to consolidation. A kind of new nation has been born inside the nation, with some people oppressing others, becoming rich artificially, without regard to the existing poverty and the ignored state of the people. This kind of living does not fit the people who have been winners.

What is your optimism conditioned by?

It is my belief that people will win after all. It is now time to come to our senses; tomorrow, it will be too later. We won’t be able to step aside. We’ll roll down right into the abyss if we go on like this.

What are your plans for the new year, which you think you will manage to realize?

Change of regime; only and only a shift of government. A government is a government only thanks to its people. That government is isolated from the people today. But it could never exist without the people. I wish that whatever happens this year happen due to the people’s vote and the people’s desire, not through violence or under pressure. We are switching over from slavery to servility today; that’s the cruelest thing. So I wish the people to come over this.

Is a change of government alone enough for solving those problems?

I don’t think these authorities would have changed or made systemic changes if they were able to. They must step down. I am positively disposed, so 2014 will mark the beginning of a new Armenia.