Home / Armenia

Tigran Torossian: The threat of European sanctions is an alarm bell our country should heed

Former Speaker talks about Armenia’s domestic and external challenges

by Tatul Hakobyan

Published: Friday January 09, 2009

Tigran Torossian with his letter of resignation. Photolure.

Yerevan - Our correspondent Tatul Hakobyan spoke to the former Speaker of Armenia's National Assembly, Tigran Torossian.

Tatul Hakobyan: Mr. Torossian it has almost been four months since your resignation and it is still not clear to the public what was the real reason behind it.

Tigran Torossian: What I said back in September was the truth. There were insurmountable conflicts in the mutual understanding of our relationships within both the party [Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)] and in the operation of state structures. To be more clear, I will give you an example. Being in power is a big responsibility for any political party, especially in countries where there are issues with the establishment of democracy, where political parties and political traditions have not yet fully developed.

At the same time, during the last several years, there was a sharp increase in the membership of the RPA, which brought to light the absolute necessity of making changes in how the party operates. The elections illustrated that the role of party structures in the electoral process is severely limited.

In April, I presented to the president and executive body of the party a plan to improve the operation of the party. I noted that if these reforms were not implemented, then all party activity would become a mere formality.

Another example. At the end of March [2008], a bill regarding extending the powers of Yerevan district leaders, which was discussed and passed during a cabinet meeting, was introduced to the National Assembly. This bill was unconstitutional. It was with great difficulty that we were able to remove it from the agenda.

Rumors began circulating in June about changes of the speaker of the parliament and on top of these rumors, an unending stream of articles (ordered by those in power) began to be published based solely on lies and falsifications.

When it became clear to me that there no longer existed the minimal general lines, upon which it would have been possible to continue working, I decided to leave the party and the position of speaker of the National Assembly.

In the political arena, every step will be subject to the logic and principles of that political arena.

When the executive body of a party passes a decision about the parliament without any foundation or basis, then there is nothing left to do, except that which I did.

It wasn't an easy decision. I have been a member of the RPA since 1992, when there was no power or positions. I appreciate all those people, under whose leadership I was lucky enough to serve - Ashot Navasartian, Antranik Margarian.

I am saddened that the party has begun to alter its nature. It [the RPA] is a value - some of its members in the 1960s were part of the National United Party that struggled in the name of Armenia's independence. It is a value because it is the first party that was registered in Armenia and a companion in our independent state's journey.

The party has gone through all the stages that an established party must go through. However, during that process, sadly, it lost two of its leaders along the way and the party could not confront all the challenges.

Tatul Hakobyan: There are those who believe that Serge Sargsian's membership in the RPA and [Prime Minister] Antranik Margarian's untimely death [in March 2007], seriously weakened the party.

Tigran Torossian:  Of course, Antranik's death was a serious blow to the party and to the country. It was a huge loss, but even after that I believed that the traditions of the party would not be lost. That as a sign of respect to the memory of Ashot and Vazken and Antranik, the party would be able to improve its work and would carry on.

And with regard to Serge Sargsian, he first became the president of the party, then was elected as the president of the Republic, and therefore his role, including his responsibility to the party and to the country is the greatest. Therefore, whenever there are failures within the party or the country, logically, those are tied directly (or considered to be) to his failures.

Tatul Hakobyan:  If Antranik Margarian had not died in March 2007, I wonder, who would have been the candidate for the presidency. Is it possible that today's president wasn't going to be the leader of the party?

Tigran Torossian: Even though today our paths have diverged, I cannot deny that at the time there was an understanding that Serge Sargsian would be nominated as the party's candidate.

Tatul Hakobyan: I remember the RPA's rally at the Dynamo Stadium and your speech where you harshly criticized Levon Ter-Petrossian, even though the RPA had supported him during the 1996 elections.

Tigran Torossian: Political alliances are not meant to last an entire lifetime; they are always subject to review.

With regard to the speech, that was a party report and naturally it was not possible not to talk about the serious changes in the political field that had occurred over the last few months.

There was nothing in that speech that was not correct. Facts were presented and assumptions were made, which I believe, are not possible to deny even today. I am not in the habit of changing my opinion depending on where I am, either in power or in opposition, whether I have a position or not.

Whatever I said back then, I said truthfully, believing that that was right and founded.

Tatul Hakobyan: When we talk about facts and logic.... When I was listening to your speech, there was the sentiment that by criticizing Ter-Petrossian, you were also criticizing Serge Sargsian, because he had been one of the most faithful supporters of the first president. For example, after the [disputed presidential election] of 1996, Serge Sargsian was one of those people who stayed by Ter-Petrossian's side till the very end. This is what is illogical for me.