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ROBERT KOCHARYAN HAS ONE MORE CHOICE
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It was not a surprise to see the head of the State Customs Agency Armen
Avetisyan in the first row of the Republican Party and not because
nobody remained in the political sphere, especially in the government
of Armenia, who can surprise the public. Simply the head of the State
Customs Agency Armen Avetisyan could not have been anywhere else. More
exactly, he should either have been where the law provides for or in
the Republican Party. It seems that there is nothing strange about his
presence to deserve special attention but as soon as we state that the
customs committee controls imports and exports in Armenia, it becomes
apparent that Armen Avetisyan acquires special importance. Even more
than the presence of the "authorities, who have quite recently become
Republicans. When the gates of Armenia are under control, control
over the internal movement becomes a matter of technique.
Hence, it is clear that Armen Avetisyan needs the Republican Party
enriched by Serge Sargsyan more than the Republican Party needs Armen
Avetisyan who how became rich nobody knows. And that Armen Avetisyan
is rich becomes clear from his cars, villa in Tsaghkadzor, expensive
Zilli suits. The society has even stopped asking Avetisyan where he
got such possessions. Armen Avetisyan has already explained once that
his wealth is from the Soviet years when his father was the director
of a building enterprise. It is not clear whether he realizes or not,
but Armen Avetisyan confesses that his possession is illegal simply
he hints that his father earned this illegal income, not he. The head
of a Soviet building enterprise could not saved so much money with
salary to live an oligarchic life in the post-Soviet Armenia.
At present, however, the problem is not how Armen Avetisyan lives such
luxurious life. It is a matter of future when neither the Republican
Party will help Avetisyan nor Avetisyan will help the Republican
Party. But presently they are convinced that they need each other. As
I have mentioned above, it is clear why they need each other. Perhaps
it is not accidental that after the extraordinary conference of the
Republican Party rumors were circulated that the president is likely
to dismiss Armen Avetisyan. But the spokesman of the president later
refuted this information. It may mean that Robert Kocharyan and the
Republican Party have agreed on their actions. But this impression
seems real only in case of a scrutiny. The point is that the process
of forming power has started in the Republic.
Perhaps this is what Serge Sargsyan meant when he said in three or
four months his initiative will produce its fruits. In this sense it
becomes clear that Robert Kocharyan is facing the necessity to hold
power of course if he is no likely to retire. As for the intentions of
the president, nobody knows about these intentions. However, during
a meeting with the students of Yerevan State University a year ago
he explained that he does not say anything about being or not being
but he is convinced that he is not worse than anyone. Hence, it means
that Robert Kocharyan is not thinking about retiring from power after
retiring from the post of president in 2008.
However, in this case it is at least surprising that not thinking
about retiring from power he is not considering, for instance,
dismissing the head of the Customs Agency. The point is that the
present situation makes impossible think about power and not think
about getting rid of the criminal. Maybe Robert Kocharyan thinks that
Armen Avetisyan is not part of the criminal system and attended the
conference of the Republican Party as an independent expert. Maybe.
Robert Kocharyan probably knows the pattern and structure of the
criminal better because for a long time he has built his power on it.
But the problem is that currently the native criminal is passing into
the hands of Serge Sargsyan, and the criminal is not a smart lamb to
"suckle two mothers".
But if Robert Kocharyan is convinced that the head of the Customs
Agency is not part of the criminal, either he must personally explain
to the public or instruct Armen Avetisyan to explain why return on
customs has a very small share in budget receipts. Or how does it
happen that Armenia becomes a transit country of drug trafficking. At
least, both facts are set down in the evaluations of authoritative
international organizations. The International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank emphasize the low level of collection of taxes and customs,
and the report of the U.S. Department of State announced several
months ago that the government officials of Armenia are involved in
trafficking in drugs and are not punished.
If the president fails to answer these questions, the society has the
right to think that Robert Kocharyan does not control the situation.
The international organizations, which warn about the disturbing
situation in customs, also have the reason to think so.
Hence, the president also has a choice. He may either dismiss the
head of the State Customs Agency and thereby display that he keeps the
situation under control or choose capitulation and start negotiations
with the Republican Party on his future status. The second variant
is perhaps easier, considering that Robert Kocharyan has a great
experience in negotiations. But the case of Aliyev is different,
they are in the same situation, whereas in the case of the Republican
Party the negotiations will be absolutely different.
Because unlike Robert Kocharyan, the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan have already made their choice.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It was not a surprise to see the head of the State Customs Agency Armen
Avetisyan in the first row of the Republican Party and not because
nobody remained in the political sphere, especially in the government
of Armenia, who can surprise the public. Simply the head of the State
Customs Agency Armen Avetisyan could not have been anywhere else. More
exactly, he should either have been where the law provides for or in
the Republican Party. It seems that there is nothing strange about his
presence to deserve special attention but as soon as we state that the
customs committee controls imports and exports in Armenia, it becomes
apparent that Armen Avetisyan acquires special importance. Even more
than the presence of the "authorities, who have quite recently become
Republicans. When the gates of Armenia are under control, control
over the internal movement becomes a matter of technique.
Hence, it is clear that Armen Avetisyan needs the Republican Party
enriched by Serge Sargsyan more than the Republican Party needs Armen
Avetisyan who how became rich nobody knows. And that Armen Avetisyan
is rich becomes clear from his cars, villa in Tsaghkadzor, expensive
Zilli suits. The society has even stopped asking Avetisyan where he
got such possessions. Armen Avetisyan has already explained once that
his wealth is from the Soviet years when his father was the director
of a building enterprise. It is not clear whether he realizes or not,
but Armen Avetisyan confesses that his possession is illegal simply
he hints that his father earned this illegal income, not he. The head
of a Soviet building enterprise could not saved so much money with
salary to live an oligarchic life in the post-Soviet Armenia.
At present, however, the problem is not how Armen Avetisyan lives such
luxurious life. It is a matter of future when neither the Republican
Party will help Avetisyan nor Avetisyan will help the Republican
Party. But presently they are convinced that they need each other. As
I have mentioned above, it is clear why they need each other. Perhaps
it is not accidental that after the extraordinary conference of the
Republican Party rumors were circulated that the president is likely
to dismiss Armen Avetisyan. But the spokesman of the president later
refuted this information. It may mean that Robert Kocharyan and the
Republican Party have agreed on their actions. But this impression
seems real only in case of a scrutiny. The point is that the process
of forming power has started in the Republic.
Perhaps this is what Serge Sargsyan meant when he said in three or
four months his initiative will produce its fruits. In this sense it
becomes clear that Robert Kocharyan is facing the necessity to hold
power of course if he is no likely to retire. As for the intentions of
the president, nobody knows about these intentions. However, during
a meeting with the students of Yerevan State University a year ago
he explained that he does not say anything about being or not being
but he is convinced that he is not worse than anyone. Hence, it means
that Robert Kocharyan is not thinking about retiring from power after
retiring from the post of president in 2008.
However, in this case it is at least surprising that not thinking
about retiring from power he is not considering, for instance,
dismissing the head of the Customs Agency. The point is that the
present situation makes impossible think about power and not think
about getting rid of the criminal. Maybe Robert Kocharyan thinks that
Armen Avetisyan is not part of the criminal system and attended the
conference of the Republican Party as an independent expert. Maybe.
Robert Kocharyan probably knows the pattern and structure of the
criminal better because for a long time he has built his power on it.
But the problem is that currently the native criminal is passing into
the hands of Serge Sargsyan, and the criminal is not a smart lamb to
"suckle two mothers".
But if Robert Kocharyan is convinced that the head of the Customs
Agency is not part of the criminal, either he must personally explain
to the public or instruct Armen Avetisyan to explain why return on
customs has a very small share in budget receipts. Or how does it
happen that Armenia becomes a transit country of drug trafficking. At
least, both facts are set down in the evaluations of authoritative
international organizations. The International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank emphasize the low level of collection of taxes and customs,
and the report of the U.S. Department of State announced several
months ago that the government officials of Armenia are involved in
trafficking in drugs and are not punished.
If the president fails to answer these questions, the society has the
right to think that Robert Kocharyan does not control the situation.
The international organizations, which warn about the disturbing
situation in customs, also have the reason to think so.
Hence, the president also has a choice. He may either dismiss the
head of the State Customs Agency and thereby display that he keeps the
situation under control or choose capitulation and start negotiations
with the Republican Party on his future status. The second variant
is perhaps easier, considering that Robert Kocharyan has a great
experience in negotiations. But the case of Aliyev is different,
they are in the same situation, whereas in the case of the Republican
Party the negotiations will be absolutely different.
Because unlike Robert Kocharyan, the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan have already made their choice.
HAKOB BADALYAN