ARF Bureau chairman Hrant Markarian speaks to Azatutyun.am
YEREVAN—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation has “neither a decidion nor an agenda to cooperate with [Robert] Kocharian, said the party’s Bureau chairman Hrant Markarian during an extensive interview with Azatutyun.am when asked whether the party will cooperate with Armenia’s former president, if he enters the political limelight in Armenia.
Below is an English translation of the interview, a video of which is also provided.
Azatutyun: There’s talk that Robert Kocharian is thinking about actively returning to the political stage. Is the ARF considering cooperating with Kocharian?
Hrant Markarian: We are considering cooperation will all forces.
Azatutyun: Including Kocharian?
H.M.: With everyone. We are ready to cooperate with all Armenians. We do not have a decision or an agenda to cooperate with Kocharian specifically.
Azatutyun: Evidently you are not ruling out cooperation with Kocharian and are you willing to cooperate with him?
H.M.: What should I rule it out? I am neither willing nor am ruling it out.
Azatutyun: Has there been such a proposal?
H.M.: No.
Azatutyun: Are you thinking about making such a proposal to him?
H.M.: No.
Azatytyun: Are you expecting that he will return to active political life?
H.M.: I don’t know what he is going to do. I really don’t.
Azatutyun: Given the events of March 1, 2008, do you find it possible to cooperate with Robert Kocharian?
H.M.: I don’t have a personal assessment of the March 1 events. I know that the incident occurred. The blame for those 8-10 victims, regardless of who shot at them, lies with everyone: with Levon Ter-Petrossian and also Robert’s [Kocharian]. It doesn’t matter who opened fire. What matters is who created that situation. At that time we warned both the [Ter-Petrosian-led] and Robert Kocharian not go down that dangerous path but they didn’t listen to us … They deliberately opted for that and got what they got.â€
