On December 19 the NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan answered the questions of the readers of the “Azg” site. There were questions addressed to the NA Speaker from different parts of the world, and he didn’t avoid answering any of them. Yesterday he answered the questions of Liberty radio station, and he expressed his views on the touched problems on our website earlier.

Lavrent Khachatryan, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Baton Rouge

“Dear A. Baghdasaryan, following your speeches I come to a conclusion that you often play double game, sorry to say, you have cross purposes, for example, everybody mentions your courageous speech on the results of the referendum: will you enter the Constitutional Court with that question, or you’ll go backward?”

“Thanks for your evaluation but let me not agree with your view of “having cross purposes” because in Armenia, unfortunately, everything is divided into black and white, and the decisions of principle are sometimes observed as a stance of saying one thing and doing another thing. Being in the power doesn’t mean to turn a blind eye to the drawbacks, being in power doesn’t mean to fight against the elimination of those drawbacks, and the best means of fighting is to speak actively and make practical steps. Avoiding the mistakes doesn’t only contribute to their elimination, but makes complications for overcoming them because what today isn’t done tomorrow requires double efforts.

In my view, there were many discussions on the referendum, yes, I believe that there have been stuffing and those who made riggings during the referendum of the most important significance in the formation of statehood should be punished by law. That’s for sure. One should apply to the Constitutional Court within 7 days prescribed by law with 44 MPs' signature, which hasn’t been initiated and hasn’t been done by the opposition and power. I’ve already declared that I’ve handed my information on the riggings to the Prosecutor’s Office. It’s necessary to give political, legal and moral estimation to the referendum, what I’ve done. I think that there is necessity for making deep analysis.

“Khachatur Badalyan, Yerevan: Dear Mr. Baghdasaryan, whose interests defends the National Assembly defining for the fairs very low fixed pay, 2772 drams for 1 square meter, when everybody knows that the organizers of the fair pay take 20.000 – 35.000 drams. Aren’t you going to get prepared to raise the question?”

“I repeatedly raised this question, but, alas, the result that we could have, we didn’t have. Though we could defend the interests of those who were involved in small and medium entrepreneurship, defend the interests of those working in the fairs, and the small booth keepers' interests and the results are obvious: everybody knows what fighting we had in this direction. To do more we need big and additional efforts. I agree with you but we should be aware that there is a big collision, we have the people’s confidence but we don’t have sufficient power to implement everything what we want, what they expect from us. I think that here there is a necessity of serious legal regulation, for which we’re fighting. Being NA President, two years were needed to accept a law on Pre-school Education if we would have accepted a year later several dozens of kindergarten buildings will also be sold. The interests are big, the fighting – too. I can say that I’ll be consistent for solving this and other similar questions.”

Marina Vardanyan: “Mr. Baghdasaryan, do you find possible the NA dissolution by RA President?”

“The dissolution of the National Assembly should have substantial preconditions and reasons, if the parliament can’t convene sessions for three months , pass decisions and laws. Today, in Armenia there are no legal, and no political reasons to dissolve the parliament.

Ashot Yeremyan, individual entrepreneur, driver, Yerevan: “Mr. Baghdasaryan, recently a bill was discussed in the parliament, which envisaged licensing for the taxi services, as well as big state duties. With your immediate efforts the Government took back the bill but I have information that they want to bring it back. This will be a disaster for people like us because not only the further pay of my student son, through whom I’m sending my question, is put under question, but also we should collect our things and go. I believe you and I ask you to back this question. It’s a shame, what do they want from us, what they want will have its limit.”

“If we speak about the development of the economy, I’m convinced that we should do everything for the development of small and medium entrepreneurship. The oligarchic economy is not the future of the political and economic development of Armenia. The future of Armenia is the business anchored in the small and medium entrepreneurship, that’s why we should not put pressure on the initiative but we’ll have distinct programme how to make the small enterprises medium: medium make big. On this way I simply consider unacceptable the approach that was displayed during the debate of the bill: an attempt was made to deprive thousands of people from a piece of bread, and attempt was made to make bigger the taxi services and accumulate in several people’s hands, against which I fight, and I’m glad that we have good result. You are well informed about the life of the parliament, be sure that all the possibilities will be used, and they are used not only for defending the rights of the existence of the middle class, for legally defending the small and medium entrepreneurs, but also every citizen of Armenia. I think “collecting the things” is not the way, where will we go, this country is ours, and we together with you should make it prosper. I repeatedly said that the people should be informed and defend their rights for achieving success. Speaking only without fighting, without work we can’t achieve any good result.

Aram Hakobyan, U.S., Ohio State: “I write you this letter as one of the fewest in the power and opposition. I have many questions but I’ll write only the two:

1. There are so many talks about anti-corruption actions in Armenia; nevertheless, we all know that nothing gets changed in the reality. I’ll give you a simple example: the police and especially the road inspectors are still working in the Soviet style. The only word, what describes what’s going on in the streets of Yerevan is the word “disgust.” Yes, the people get disgusted from the road inspectors’ actions, but they can’t do anything. And what’s worse, people got used to it, most of them think that it’s perhaps, normal but I ensure you, and you know that it’s not like that. We all witnessed the changes, which took place in that sphere in our neighbour republic after Saakashvili coming into power. It proved that it’s possible to make changes in that sphere and fix a number of problems during short period. Don’t you think, that there is something to do for changing the situation in Armenia and in the police and in the work of the road inspectors, and in general, against corruption, if we really want to become a civilized country. I would very much appreciate your answer.”

“I absolutely agree with you and if you were a resident of Armenia, you would be the witness of my many speeches and publications on your mentioned issue. In Armenia it’s obvious that the road inspection doesn’t work with modern methods. You are right bringing the example of the neighbouriong Georgia, where being on an offical visit, I’ve personally seen the changes done. In Armenia today there are all possibilities to have service of modern technique and punish the undisciplined drivers and subject them to responsibility. Due to consistent work I can say that in Armenia a political decision was made to improve the road inspection system, we should create a system of state inspection in compliance with international standards. I can say that the reforms have already started, and we have political consistency, to solve the problem till the end. Very often in Armenia not any kind of work remains unpunished, i.e. in case of obviously seeming changes, not always we can confidently say that they will take place: we should fight and work. In Armenia because of public stances over the state inspection there were several scandals months ago, but I’m sure that in near future we’ll have a good system of road inspection.

2. “It has been already 4 years that I’m in the U.S. and I study in Ohio State University. My wife is also from Armenia, I have a child, who was born here. Soon I’ll finish my education and get a scientific degree. Of course, I have very many chances to get work here, then to become an ordinary American but I don’t want to do like that. I would like to return to Armenia and build my family there. We missed our country but there is no work there, so I can keep my family. I know that there are many Armenian young people like me from the U.S. and other places, who would address you with the same question. How will you answer me and can you give us an encouraging answer, so we can come back to Armenia?”

“I already had several meetings with the graduates, who studied in European and American Universities and returned to the Motherland and I’m well aware of their problems. I don’t want to have the role of a preacher, but I’m sure that we should work well for good life. Many people expect that the country would become prosperous and they will return, I can understand as a human being but not justify. This is our country, our house, and we should make our house rich and powerful, the others won’t do it. We won’t go further with the consumer’s psychology. And we don’t love the Motherland only when it’s powerful and rich, but loving Motherland we make it powerful and rich. And Armenia needs today you and your family with your knowledge, being young with your wish of having success, that is the most important thing that I would like to say. I’m ready to meet you and discuss the possibility of our future cooperation because I’m sure that people like you are necessary to Armenia.

Lilit Vardanyan, Athens, Greece: What provision of the New Constitution defines the issue of dual citizenship and what restrictions are there? Can the Armenians of Diaspora get citizenship and what preconditions are there?

“I’m glad that living in Greece you are interested in the Motherland and possibilities of getting dual citizenship. For being clearer I quote the Article 30.1 of RA Constitution: (the voluminous quotation of the article see in A. Baghdasaryan’s answer placed in the “Azg” daily).

I’ll add that the draft law defining the rights and obligations having dual citizenship is already in elaboration and it can be in effect in case of the relevant agreement between Armenia and other state.

Hovik, Beirut, Lebanon – Mr. Baghdasaryan, do you consider possible as a party leader enjoying the confidence of the people that in the forthcoming presidential elections you’ll present your candidacy. Can you say what is your stance on the possibilities of the Artsakh issue settlement?

“There is enough time till the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections for making decisions. And as to the possibilities of the Artsakh issue settlement and I had repeatedly an opportunity to say that the issue should have compromising settlement. Long ago the issue has stopped to be related only to Armenia and Azerbaijan and it is in the center of attention of superpowers and OSCE Minsk group. I think that the deepening of democratization and integration in the region will bring new opportunities for the settlement of the issue. In all cases the human rights and security of the Artsakh residents should be protected, and the issue of Artsakh status should be solved.

“Azg” daily, Yerevan: Mr. Baghdasaryan, your colleagues from coalition referred to it unambiguously connected with your statements. What are going on now in the partnership relations of OEK and two other parties of coalition?

“You know some people start taking revenge before you manage to offend them. I don’t consider right this approach, that’s why in Armenia sometimes the coalition is like a marriage alliance, where the jealousy is stronger than love. I’m for free, direct coalition partnership based on principality. Whether we manage everything and everything goes on peacefully, I can say, of course. That’s why we are not one but three parties. But I’m sure that alongside with drawbacks a lot of positive work is done, the results of which are obvious. In the political coalition formed after the elections the parties always freely expressed and defend their views, which, naturally, didn’t always coincide . Not before there weren’t any problems and not now there aren’t around which it’s not possible to agree. Nevertheless, it’s obvious that nothing is eternal in the world."