Seyran Ohanyan comments on his withdrawal from state structures and  his decision to run in parliamentary elections  

ArmInfo.In a video address, ex-defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan comments on his withdrawal from the state structures and his decision to run in the  parliamentary elections.   

First of all, Ohanyan draws the society's attention the recent past -  the Soviet Union, as it was in the Soviet army that he started his  professional military service. He recalls that the Soviet Union was  one of the most powerful states of that time. "Apparently, the  short-sightedness of the Soviet leaders resulted in deterioration of  the political situation in the country and in inter-ethnic clashes  that led to the country's collapse," he says. He also recalls that in  the Soviet army soldiers had no right to interfere in the political  processes and they could be severely punished for breaking that  taboo. Ohanyan says though he was a carrier of Soviet ideology, he  made the right decision when the national security of the country was  endangered. "My teammates and I stood up to defend the national  dignity and interests of Artsakh despite the existing threats," he  said. "Having chosen the most difficult path," Ohanyan decided to  defend the Artsakh people's right to self-determination.

"Today, I am not going to speculate on my participation in the  Artsakh liberation war," Ohanyan said. Like in the days of the Soviet  time, he says, the country is experiencing a very difficult period.  "Facing a choice again, I choose the most difficult path and my goal  on the political arena is not to ensure my participation in a  performance, but to consolidate the patriotic forces concerned about  the situation in the country and to find the ways to ensure the  security of people," he notes. 

Ohanyan says he does not regret his refusal from the high ranks  because he is sure that the state machine's potential to solve the  accumulated problems has been exhausted. "I took my decision myself,  relying on high moral values," he says, noting that to overcome the  problems, it is first of all necessary to develop the ruined economy.  Economic development models in different countries are different and  they are driven by national circumstances. "It is obvious that a  normal society should have fair and lawful relations, where the  wealthy people give part of their property to the other part of the  society through a reasonable tax system and assume the social  responsibility for the process. They (the wealthy public strata -  editor's note) are not afraid to lose their property. This model is  called "the idea of the welfare of the state" and it functions in  almost all developed countries. We should also follow it and escape  the clutches of the wild capitalism, building a liberal economy,"  Ohanyan says.

The ex-minister thinks that if the Armenian people are unable to  change the current flawed system peacefully, tomorrow they will face  the danger of coups and bloody upheavals. This endangers both Armenia  and Artsakh. "This is why I have decided to appear in the open  political arena and I am going to present a specific program on  system changes to the people together with my teammates," he says. 

"My experience in public administration will undoubtedly help us  implement the changes," Ohanyan says, adding that he highly  appreciates the efforts of all those consolidated around him. Every  opinion will be taken into account when choosing the methods of  struggle for the welfare of people, he says, promising that in the  next video address he will thoroughly present the visions of Armenian  economy development.