Aghazaryan says open to ANC cooperation

PanARMENIAN.Net - The MASK party, founded by former Civil Contract MPs Hovik Aghazaryan and Hakob Aslanyan, is preparing to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, though potential alliances remain uncertain.

Aghazaryan stated that they would “with great pleasure” cooperate with the Armenian National Congress, but his earlier critical remarks about Levon Ter-Petrosyan have negatively affected relations.

“We are fully ready to cooperate with the Armenian National Congress, but my sincere critical remarks addressed to Levon Ter-Petrosyan have had a very negative impact on former colleagues and people within the ANC, and they do not want to see my face,” Aghazaryan said, according to Aysor.am .

He added that there are forces with whom they will not form an alliance, namely political groups associated with former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.

“Of course, let it not sound grandiose — it’s not as if they are asking us from morning till evening. With all other forces we are ready to form alliances and participate, if they find it appropriate. The framework is outlined for us, but we will speak about that in about two weeks,” he noted.

Aghazaryan clarified that cooperation on certain issues does not necessarily imply forming a formal alliance.

“For example, to prevent Nikol Pashinyan from being reproduced in power, we are ready to cooperate with anyone on that matter,” he said.

Responding to the observation that opposition consolidation largely revolves around the political figures he mentioned, Aghazaryan said: “Then Mr. Aslanyan’s and my political fate is predetermined, and we will not achieve success. We are ready for that. We believe we can be useful to the state, which is why we have our political and civic stance. Whether it works or not is another matter. We are not ready to proceed at any cost.”

Asked whether other political forces had proposed cooperation, he said such proposals had been made but declined to specify from which parties.

“In one case, we took the initiative and were essentially rejected. In another case, they proposed it, and we are now in negotiations with them. We are also negotiating with another force,” he said.

He added that they are ready to cooperate with the “Mer Dzevov” movement, but its current tactics suggest it plans to run alone. Regarding the “Proposal to Armenia” initiative, Aghazaryan said they are ready to cooperate with Gagik Tsarukyan if there is reciprocal interest.

The MP noted that failure to enter the next parliament would not be considered a tragedy.

“We are ready for any situation. Of course, we will do everything to be represented, but we must also be prepared for the possibility that we will not. Life does not end there. If our program does not work and the opposition does not consolidate around it or a similar agenda, then Civil Contract will win and our statehood will face serious challenges. As a year ago, Mr. Aslanyan and I believe that Nikol Pashinyan has exhausted himself politically, physically, spiritually and morally and cannot continue to govern the country,” Aghazaryan concluded.

The “United National Constitutional Party” (MASK) was registered by the State Register Agency on February 13. Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7, 2026.