Why did you join Serzh Sargsyan’s government after the 2008 presidential elections? You had been critical of him before that.

The decision to join his team was quite judicious politically since it prevented further domestic instability that might have lead to further bloodshed and outside aggression.

Mr. Baghdasaryan, could you tell us why your party’s platform is politically competitive?

First off, it’s quite all encompassing. No sector has been left out. Voters must be acutely aware of the ideas put forth by all the parties and how they envisage moving the country ahead. In this regard, our platform’s benefits are out in the open and it proposes a score of new approaches and ideas to do just that. I can single out our desire to create state funds that will spur the development of small and medium business and a national strategy tasked with providing low cost housing. The latter is linked to our plan to provide low-cost mortgages to young families so that they can acquire housing at affordable rates.

I am your supporter but was disillusioned when you recently stated that you would be backing the candidacy of Serzh Sargsyan for re-election as president in 2013. Why won’t you run in 2013?

When I made that stated I was reaffirming our party’s position to back the current president in principle. Please don’t be disappointed for the passage of time will resolve all questions.

Will you be inviting other political figures like Levon Ter-Petrosyan or Gagik Tsarukyan to debates?

Political debates are quite important but so is an atmosphere of civil and creative dialog during the campaign. We have always adopted such an approach, but sadly, certain of our political opponents have not.

Will you disband the Rule of Law Party if it doesn’t win the 5% vote threshhold necessary to be represented in the National Assembly?

I regard such a question as ridiculous. Our party has 170,000 members and 450 party offices throughout the country.

Do you think those new approaches and ideas that you say the party proposes to implement will be understandable to the general electorate?

We have always believed in the wisdom of our people, their ability to not fall prey to various conspiracies, and to make intelligent choices. Wherever we have gone, our initiatives have been warmly received by wide segments of the public. Thus, we need to effectively organize our election campaign to get the word out about our ideas and desires to as many as possible.

During the past few months, the party’s leadership, in collaboration with our regional headquarters, has discussed what our party’s campaign tactics should be. Our political team is confident regarding what we have come up with and has launched our campaign accordingly.