Serzh Sargsyan: Speculation with the thesis "Let`s surrender Artsakh  and we`ll live " has disintegrated the foundations of the Armenian  30-year independence

ArmInfo. The speculation with the thesis "Let;s surrender Artsakh and we will live" for many years has disintegrated the foundations of the Armenian 30-year  independence.  Leader of the RPA, third President of the Republic of  Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated this during his welcoming speech at the  opening of the 17th Congress of the Republican Party of Armenia.

"The Artsakh issue has been and remains a question of the protection  and existence of our people, the preservation of our identity as an  independent state unit. But, unfortunately, in order to understand  this truth, our people had to go through a bloody war," the RPA  leader said, recalling that today there are 85 nationalities in the  world without a state with a population of 3 to 30 million.

At the same time, he wondered if Armenia really wants to join their  ranks, consigning to oblivion those who gave their lives for the  independence of the Republic of Armenia.

"My brothers in arms and I never hid in bunkers. Our generation  believed that fulfilling our duty to the fatherland was not heroism.  Ensuring the safety of our people was our duty and service. Our  generation also believed that the deeds they did were a vivid proof  of that. Moreover, from the point of view of international relations,  it is interesting to note that after the Second World War there were  no victories in the world, accompanied by territorial conquests,  without sanctions. How could we not explain to our people the meaning  of this happiness? Instead, the phrase "let's live well" was widely  advertised. I want to ask if you are living well now? "Sargsyan  asked.

At the same time, he noted that this congress is also a unique  watershed, since today the RPA is a political force that will  announce the end of this stage of self-purification. According to  him, only those who are ready for self-sacrifice for the prosperity  and protection of Armenia and Artsakh, the church, dignity, in memory  of those who gave their lives for the Motherland should remain in the  party.  Sargsyan also announced that this time the regular congress  of the party, unlike in previous years, is held in a different  status, it is of an oppositional. Therefore, according to him, the  reports will differ significantly from the reports of their previous  regular congresses, where they presented the priorities of state  policy in different directions and the steps taken to implement them.

"It's one thing to be a member of the ruling party, it is completely  different to represent an opposition political force.  And this  applies not only to the Republican Party, this is not only an  internal phenomenon. You, like thousands of our friends in the party,  have gone through this transformation or a unique test. Some did not  passed the test, and it really was a serious test in the face of  violent attacks by wicked populist authorities, blatant lawlessness,  repression, political persecution, slander, attacks on families and  children. Not everyone was ready to endure, resist, maintain a spirit  of struggle, and some were just opportunists, who always fit in at  different times, and at such a moment they left the political family,  putting their interests and comfort above all else. Unfortunately,  the Republican Party was not deprived of those in its ranks. It was a  process that had to go through and be cleansed. " RPA leader said. 

At the same time, the third President of Armenia stated that in recent  years many questions have accumulated, some of which have been voiced  by the RPA. "Nevertheless, this congress is an opportunity to take  stock of what we have already done, to comprehend in more detail, to  answer questions that interest many of you, a significant part of our  society. In the end, what has happened over the past 5 years? Why did  populists seize power? What is happening now inside our country?   What are the major challenges we face? What are the dangers and  threats facing our country? From the point of view of ensuring the  security and defense of Armenia and Artsakh, in what geopolitical  environment, what are the hotbeds of the conflict of interests? As  you can see, I do not speak a ceremonial speech of a ceremonial  nature, but I speak honestly with you, I expect the same from you,  "Sargsyan said.said.  

At the same time, he mentioned that he left the political arena in  2018 to avoid bloodshed, so that thousands of people gathered in the  square could fulfill their dreams, demanding accountability from the  authorities who came on a wave of euphoria in fulfilling these  promises.

"In 2018, I left, wishing peace, harmony and logic to our country, I  left in order to calm down our people, deceived by populists and  poisoned by a large number of manipulations, lies and misinformation  by those who came to power with the support of external interested  forces, with clear geopolitical goals, "the third President of the  Republic of Armenia noted.

He stressed that he would only be happy if peace and harmony reigned  in the country. However, Sargsyan continued, the real goals of what  was hidden behind the veil of the people's velvet revolution are  already visible to many people today. "Apparently, I interfered with  those who, with the help of these misunderstandings, put me in front  of a difficult dilemma: to leave or to use force, to shed blood in my  country in order to stay in power. It is not hard to imagine what  position the scriptwriters or the real beneficiaries of the so-called  revolution would put Armenia in, what kind of attitude our country  would be worthy of. Armenia would be registered in rogue countries,  and me in dictatorship. They were not at all interested in the fact  that the internal political instability in Armenia seriously  increases the external danger, that there is direct tension on the  border and that the enemy is taking advantage of this opportunity.  They didn't care, maybe even desirable, but I care. I took it all  into account. Our government interfered with all those whose ideas  about Artsakh and the future of Armenia did not coincide with ours.  We didn't belong to anyone, we promoted the interests of our country,  which they didn't like, "said the third president of Armenia.   According to him, in 2018 his goal was not to stay in power, but to  keep Artsakh at any cost, which was a guarantee of Armenia's  security. Sargsyan reiterated that he was nominated for the post of  Prime Minister only in order to strengthen the position of the  Republic of Armenia in the negotiation process on Artsakh and to  avoid today's tragedy. "Was it not clear that the unfavorable  solution of the Artsakh issue would cost Armenia too much? I was  convinced of this, although I was accused of wanting to remain in  power forever."the third President of the Republic of Armenia noted.   At the same time, Sargsyan expressed his conviction that external  forces could not have achieved success if they did not have  supporters inside Armenia, the Trojan horse, which with his own hands  will destroy his own house from the inside. He stated with regret  that there were such people in Armenia.  At the same time, the RPA  leader turned to some circles and urged not to blame him for their  mistakes.. "I want to appeal to certain circles. Don't blame me for  your mistakes. I did not force you to participate in this adventure,  and then invent myths, as if I had agreed to surrender power to this  one ( Nikol Pashinyan - ed. note) ",  the third President of the  Republic of Armenia summed up.