Real Power Belongs to Mr. Aslanyan and Me, Says Hovik Aghazaryan

This is our sorrow, and we remember, contemplate, and think about it every year—how can we prevent similar incidents not only related to the Armenian people but in the world in general? This was stated by Hovik Aghazaryan, a member of the National Assembly and a former member of the Civil Contract party, during a conversation with NEWS.am at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex on April 24.

Referring to accusations that Nikol Pashinyan's government is neglecting the genocide and pushing it to the background—especially in light of pressure from Turkey and Azerbaijan to sign a peace agreement—he stated, “To be honest, I believe that the issue of the Armenian Genocide should not be a priority in foreign relations. I am not particularly in favor of it, but of course, the opposite should not happen either; we should not be told that we need to provide some assessments, reevaluate, or even deny that we have relations.” He emphasized, “Both extremes are unacceptable for me.”

When asked how he assesses the closure of the memorial entrance for citizens because the Prime Minister is there with high-ranking officials, Aghazaryan responded, “We are already returning, and at the time when Mr. Aslanyan and I were coming, there were no restrictions, and citizens were also coming.” Regarding the idea that he and Mr. Aslanyan are coming separately from the government, Aghazaryan insisted, “Mr. Aslanyan and I believe that the real power belongs to us—Aslanyan and I—because the rest of our former colleagues have deviated from the value system that we entered the revolution and then the government with.”

Aghazaryan noted that there are many such deviations but he does not wish to discuss them now, as it does not fit the spirit of the day.