An interview with Saribek Sukiasyan, candidate of NA member nominated from Electoral Constituency Nr. 10
Mr. Sukiasyan, isn’t your nomination conditioned with the famous act taken by the authorities towards your brother Khachatur Sukiasyan? In other words, so that the mandate would not be issued to the candidate of authorities easily, as you have consistently declared that you are a man of business.
A few days ago I submitted the motivations for being nominated as candidate of NA member. I have already announced that not registering my brother Khachatur Sukiasyan is illegal, rough violation of human rights and political persecution. It is also injustice towards the voters, as it is not secret that Khachatur Sukiasyan has a lot of sympathizers especially in the election area No 10, and depriving these people from possibility of voting for their preferred candidate is transferred from legal sphere to moral sphere. That’s why I consider it my obligation to replace my brother despite of the fact I declared earlier that I am an economic figure and I do not want to go in for politics. My nomination is my positive reaction to the public requirement. The competition in this electoral constituency has been traditionally keen, but civilized. This can be said for this time. The question is not at all the conceding or not conceding the mandate. The object is the continuation of the healthy line in the economic policy, Khachatur Sukiasyan has been the apologist of it and he has supported it during his activities in the National Assembly and the public is sure of that.
I don’t want to sound immodest, I have big expertise of managing, I clearly understand the economy, I professionally master the production, construction, financial-economic and servicing spheres and I understand what should be done to put the country’s economy on foot and create prerequisites of prosperous and well-to-do life for working people.
You are a new name in politics, what freshness and changes are you going to bring with you that have not been done yet?
Frankly speaking, I do not agree with the formulation: I am not new in politics. It is quite another issue that I was not actively involved in political or party activities in the past, but they know me in political circles. And If I speak of the freshness that I am going to bring, then the said freshness would be out-of-date after forming the new parliament. Everything that countervails and replaces the old is freshness. One of the main peculiarities of freshness is the surprise that should be made on right time. You can study my pre-election program regarding the changes.
According to your opinion, you are as strong candidate as Khachatur for your competitor Garegin Nushikyan, perhaps because you have less recognition by the public?
Yes, for my competitors I am as strong candidate as Khachatur. In this situation, may be stronger, don’t forget Khachatur Sukiasyan is going to lead my pre-election headquarters, i.e. the force is being doubled.
Having great respect to my brother I must state that I have an independent performance in to-days reality. I have been chairman of ARMECONOMBANK for 15 years. From bankruptcy I turned it into a transparent structure corresponding to international criteria. The genes of Sukiasyan bear successful fruits. I and Khachatur have identical attitudes towards principal issues. I have presented my viewpoints about political and economic issues by mass media; I am popular enough among the residents of our electoral constituency, also by daily contacts with most of them.
Mr. Sukiasyan, it is common knowledge what pressure was exerted on Khachatur Sukiasyan for his political views. Aren’t you afraid of a new wave of pressures?
Pressures were exerted not only on Khachatur Sukiasyan, but also on our whole family and our relatives. Why only we? A lot of people have undergone pressures both big and small trials. The so-called pressure is an influential factor in political struggle and may provide some results for the person exerting pressure. But let’s mention that the pressures cannot be incessant and continuous. Life has proved that it is not the reasonable way and as a rule it has an effect of boomerang, in the long run it hits the authority of those who exert pressure. I hope the Armenian political intellect has perceived this fact.
What relations do you have with Garegin Nushikyan and how do you estimate the chances of the latter?
We have had normal relations with my competitor up to now and currently we also have normal relations, but let me estimate my chances. Business and rich expertise of managing economic and financial structures has taught me to estimate my chances, capabilities, analyze the situation and predict the consequences before starting any new initiative. I have done all this and I am preparing to enter into decisive electoral campaign. Also my contacts with the residents of the of the election area, their confidence towards me, my obligation of not disappoint them, also well-trained team that supports me reinforce my persuasion that I will win.