Friday, May 23 2014

Mr.
Sharmazanov, your latest statement saying that within the coming ten years the
way to the top power will be through the RPA aroused hot debates and criticism
by the opponents. What is your attitude to such criticism?

 Frankly
speaking, I was not much surprised at such response. I’d like to say, however,
that many responded just emotionally. Very few gave proper assessments. Many
think that they will win the next elections. It is their right to think so.
Anyway, my speech remains in force and my colleagues in the Party and Prime
Minister Hovik Abrahamyan support it. My statement was not aimed against any
political force, it was just statement of fact. I said nothing apolitical or
extraordinary.

 Let’s speak of the government program adopted
yesterday. How much is it adequate to the challenges the country is facing and
will it help fulfill the tasks set?

  The government’s programme differs from the previous
programmes , as many notes and proposals of  our opponents were taken into account. Prime Minister
Hovik Abrahamyan has extended  a hand of
cooperation to all the political forces. We have taken into consideration the
proposals of all the forces which have been criticizing us. I mean rather serious
proposals from a deputy, ex-premier  Hrant
Bagratyan, as well as some programme points from the ARFD and Prosperous
Armenia Party. This is evidence of the fact that despite criticism, the government
and its head are ready to effectively cooperate. The actions by the premier show elements of consolidation.

 Against such а readiness to listen to the viewpoint of our opponents,  their criticism causes at least bewilderment. I think that our opposition should go Bagratyan’s way. Bagratyan does not scare saying about the common contact points. We have to get rid of phobia of cooperation with the power, as there is nothing bad in it. When the opposition does something good and useful for the country, we do not scare to tell about it. I would advise our opponents to act the same way.

 

What personnel resources does the power have
today for fulfillment of the programme?

 -I think that
the programme is very much realistic. Moreover, the RPA has a political will,
strong personnel and intellectual base as well as  the wish to cooperate with all the political
forces and the civilian sector. We are honest with our partners and we are
tuned to the constructive dialogue. I think that it is better to have a task of
reaching 5%  economic growth  and fulfill such a task, than to declare 7%
growth and fail. I think that the new government is more realistic. It is
better to have positive than negative surprises.

 

When discussing the government’s programme, a member
of the parliament from the PAP, Gurgen Arsenyan, said that there disagreements within
the RPA. Is there a threat of split?

 I don’t know
what  a split Arsenyan means, as members
of the RPA jointly supported the prime minister and the programme submitted by
him. Abrahamyan’s government has gained a serious potential of trust from the
side of the president as well as parliament the majority of which is the RPA.
This is our programme, and we shall do everything possible for Abrahamyan’s
government to succeed. First of all, not Abrahamyan or the Republican Party of
Armenia need this success but the people and the country. As for Arsenyan, I
am  surprised that a representative of
the PAP parliamentary faction protects Abrahamyan from his colleagues.
Abrahamyan does not need his protection. We need his success. I ask all pessimists
to be more constructive and tolerant. The discussion of the programme in the
parliament showed that there are no separate teams of the government and
parliament. All of us are one team, the team of the Republican Party of
Armenia, which will do everything possible for the success of the government
and premier.