Hayk Khanumyan: In This Elections We Put Our Emphasis on Political and Economic Decentralization

• 05.01.2015, 16:27
•  NKR,  Interview

"Armedia" Information, Analytical Agency presents an exclusive interview with the head of National Revival party Hayk Khanumyan on the upcoming May 3 parliamentary elections of NKR.

- Mr. Khanumyan, how would you assess the ongoing election campaign? Are  all conditions provided for holding transparent and legitimate elections?

- The election campaign in Artsakh usually goes with 2 scenarios depending on circumstances. When there is a strong competition, especially a strong opposition or a candidate, as it was the case in 2005 parliamentary, 2007, 2012 presidential elections, the authorities resort to all possible electoral fraud to ensure their victory. In this case, when there is no strong competition, there is no opposition, as during 2010 parliamentary elections, the authorities do not resort to much electoral fraud. The 2015 parliamentary elections belong to the first scenario, where there is a serious competition among the political parties, there is a strong and ambitious opposition – us. We know very well the level of the current authorities, as well as the quality of our political system. Various pressures on our supporters and members of the party during the campaign, depriving us from central election headquarter speaks about the fact that the authorities will do their best to ensure their desired outcome. Unfortunately, we do not have any basis for trusting the authorities. Our own guarantee is our proxies.

- How would you describe the importance of NKR Parliamentary elections? According to you, can these elections secure progress in the NKR democratization process?

- We have chosen the systematic form of fight and see elections as an opportunity for raising the quality of the political system. In the process of democratization the society having a potential for self-organization, has a great importance. Elections are an opportunity for self-organization of society, at least temporarily. We will do our best to push this process of self-organization to the end.

- How much will the elections impact the change of the perceptions of the international community and the developments of foreign relations? After the elections can we expect more efforts on increasing the subjectivity of NKR?

- International human rights organizations while preparing their reports on assessing the world freedom usually take into consideration the level of the elections held. As these elections in Artsakh are quite competitive, then the assessments of the international analytical centers and organizations evaluating the process of democratization would be favorable, but cannot have any impact on raising the NKR subjectivity, as the latter is more an internal, then an external process.

 - What is your vision of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement?

-  In Karabakh issue we see only one superpower and that superpower is Artsakh. It is only with developed economy, advanced political system and strong society that Artsakh can solve its security and demographic problems and complete our victory in the war field.

- What are the main peculiarities of your party compared to others?

- In this elections, we put our emphasis on political and economic decentralization, which we did not see in other parties’ election platforms. This implies a new vision for the development of the communities of Artsakh, through special arrangements of their local resources and increased revenues, new authorization of communities, regional powers. After the elections, irrespective of the results, we will continue our policy on increasing the role of self-governing bodies, communities, as one of the bases of democracy is having developed and self-governing community.