Armenia has much more serious problems than ones raised by ex-president: opinion

First Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s comments on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border incidents and on Armenia’s domestic political problems have evoked varied responses by Armenia’s political forces.

Political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan believes that this is nothing but a step to criticize Armenia’s authorities. Vice-Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan considers Ter-Petrosyan’s concern “to the point.”

Mr Yenokyan does not share Ter-Petrosyan’s opinion that Armenia does not adequately respond to Azerbaijan’s provocations on the Line of Contact.

“I have no information that Armenia does not give an adequate response. Ter-Petrosyan has more information. But I think Armenia is adequately responding,” he told Tert.am.

According to him, the reason for Ter-Petrosyan’s statement is the need for criticizing Armenia’s authorities.

“It is Ter-Petrosyan that is supposed to give a political explanation for this all.”

As regards Ter-Petrosyan’s response to constitutional reforms, Yenokyan said:

“Numerous problems are on the agenda, and the major problem is current Armenian-Russian relations. Gazprom is facing sanctions tomorrow. How are we going to resolve our gas-supply problems? Two large banks in Armenia are already facing sanctions, and Ter-Petrosyan does not discuss the problems arising from the current Armenian-Russian relations because he is for Armenian-Russian relations. However, it is the Armenian-Russian relations that are the major obstacle for our country. And I do not think speaking of constitutional reforms would be quite adequate now.”

According to him, Armenia’s pro-government and opposition forces are afraid of speaking of much more serious problems facing Armenia, because they share the responsibility for the present situation.

With respect to the border incidents, Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan noted that military retaliation is not normally a public action.

As regards constitutional reforms, the Heritage party has always been for reforms and for a parliamentary republic. However, it is not Armenia’s incumbent authorities that are supposed to implement constitutional reforms.

“The authorities are trying to accomplish the task of their own further reproduction. And their attempts to implement reforms are relevant. But it is they that need the reforms, and it is not what we are thinking of,” Martirosyan said.

As regards Ter-Petrosyan;’s remarks concerning a possible Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in France, Martirosyan said that meetings could ease tensions.

“And Ter-Petrosyan’s remark implies that no essential expectations about such a meeting should be held. It requires Artsakh’s [Nagorno-Karabakh’s] participation, which is not the case now.”

The Armenian authorities’ policy has caused certain problems to Armenia.

“Indeed, we are in a rather difficult situation with respect to Artsakh. But in any case we can find ways out of the situation, which requires radical reforms in the country.”