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THERE IS NO MOVEMENT NOW
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview24401.html
Published: 13:50:34 - 01/12/2011
Interview with Edgar Vardanyan, ACNIS Expert
Is Levon Ter-Petrosyan~Rs recent statement that the
Republican-Bargavach Hayastan Party can change the arrangement of
political forces a way out of the crisis or just another cause for
deepening crisis and frustration?
First, it should be noted that Ter-Petrosyan did not rule our
cooperation with the Bargavach Hayastan Party in case the BHP really
wants to leave the coalition and promote free and fair elections in the
country. It is obvious, however, that the Armenian National Congress
is acting in the pre-election mode, even though the Congress states
its goal to be systemic change, taking steps which are characteristic
of parties rather than a democratic movement. The movement which could
lead to change is not found in Armenia, and the opposition forces are
trying to boost their influence under the current rules of the game,
play on internecine conflicts, pressure the government.
If we assume for a moment that the Bargavach Hayastan Party will agree,
will it not lead to loss of the civil potential?
If the opposition acts in accordance with the rules of the government,
I think they will not succeed. Some opposition forces will certainly
get into the parliament but the question is what it will bring for
these forces and the public. The problems of the society will not
be solved, though the opposition forces are not limited to the wish
to enter the parliament. With the current regime through, it will
hardly be possible to achieve equity, independence of the judiciary,
human rights protection and even social and economic welfare. I don~Rt
find the opposition able to change the rules of the game.
In other words, there is a political crisis?
And a very serious one. Now they talk more about internecine conflicts
and crisis but there is a similar crisis in the opposition. They seem
to have put up with this situation when the government sets the rules.
I think the Congress is becoming less popular. People may ask the
question how Levon Ter-Petrosyan will make sure that the BHP is
committed to free elections. If a statement is enough for that, why
shouldn~Rt he believe Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican PAtry which
also state committed to free elections?
I think the Congress is not self-confident about its ability to
mobilize the public and reach its goal. So far nobody has succeeded in
mobilization, although as soon as several hundreds of people take to
the streets, the government will leave. But they did not succeed, so
they decided to handle internecine conflicts though it will not work.
How can confidence of the public be restored?
I think there is not a civil force in Armenia yet which was formed
bottom up and pursues systemic reforms.
Political parties wish to come to power. Each of their actions pursues
this goal. It hinders systemic changes, change of the rules of the
game. The parties will not waste efforts if they know that other
forces will come to power. Should the key problem of the public be
the lack of a social and economic strategy, this problem could be
solved by a force which would come to power with such a project in
hand. But as long as the society considers its main problem to be the
anti-democratic forces, the activities of parties cannot lead to the
implementation of the main goal of government.
Therefore, Armenia needs a civil movement, a movement the ultimate
goal of which will not be power, which may consolidate all the forces
to ensure free elections.
Now there are such civil groups but they deal with problems in separate
sectors, their goal is not to change the rules of the game.
Perhaps, they do not believe in fast change of the system.
What should a democratic movement look like?
It must be a movement of carriers of democratic values who cooperate
on a horizontal platform, it must be a movement of equals. It does
not mean that there must be no leaders. But they must be elected
and must be accountable to the movement. They must be capable of
self-sacrifice, their place is the front line. And the leaders must
understand that in case of failure they must be ready to leave instead
of excusing themselves.
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview24401.html
Published: 13:50:34 - 01/12/2011
Interview with Edgar Vardanyan, ACNIS Expert
Is Levon Ter-Petrosyan~Rs recent statement that the
Republican-Bargavach Hayastan Party can change the arrangement of
political forces a way out of the crisis or just another cause for
deepening crisis and frustration?
First, it should be noted that Ter-Petrosyan did not rule our
cooperation with the Bargavach Hayastan Party in case the BHP really
wants to leave the coalition and promote free and fair elections in the
country. It is obvious, however, that the Armenian National Congress
is acting in the pre-election mode, even though the Congress states
its goal to be systemic change, taking steps which are characteristic
of parties rather than a democratic movement. The movement which could
lead to change is not found in Armenia, and the opposition forces are
trying to boost their influence under the current rules of the game,
play on internecine conflicts, pressure the government.
If we assume for a moment that the Bargavach Hayastan Party will agree,
will it not lead to loss of the civil potential?
If the opposition acts in accordance with the rules of the government,
I think they will not succeed. Some opposition forces will certainly
get into the parliament but the question is what it will bring for
these forces and the public. The problems of the society will not
be solved, though the opposition forces are not limited to the wish
to enter the parliament. With the current regime through, it will
hardly be possible to achieve equity, independence of the judiciary,
human rights protection and even social and economic welfare. I don~Rt
find the opposition able to change the rules of the game.
In other words, there is a political crisis?
And a very serious one. Now they talk more about internecine conflicts
and crisis but there is a similar crisis in the opposition. They seem
to have put up with this situation when the government sets the rules.
I think the Congress is becoming less popular. People may ask the
question how Levon Ter-Petrosyan will make sure that the BHP is
committed to free elections. If a statement is enough for that, why
shouldn~Rt he believe Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican PAtry which
also state committed to free elections?
I think the Congress is not self-confident about its ability to
mobilize the public and reach its goal. So far nobody has succeeded in
mobilization, although as soon as several hundreds of people take to
the streets, the government will leave. But they did not succeed, so
they decided to handle internecine conflicts though it will not work.
How can confidence of the public be restored?
I think there is not a civil force in Armenia yet which was formed
bottom up and pursues systemic reforms.
Political parties wish to come to power. Each of their actions pursues
this goal. It hinders systemic changes, change of the rules of the
game. The parties will not waste efforts if they know that other
forces will come to power. Should the key problem of the public be
the lack of a social and economic strategy, this problem could be
solved by a force which would come to power with such a project in
hand. But as long as the society considers its main problem to be the
anti-democratic forces, the activities of parties cannot lead to the
implementation of the main goal of government.
Therefore, Armenia needs a civil movement, a movement the ultimate
goal of which will not be power, which may consolidate all the forces
to ensure free elections.
Now there are such civil groups but they deal with problems in separate
sectors, their goal is not to change the rules of the game.
Perhaps, they do not believe in fast change of the system.
What should a democratic movement look like?
It must be a movement of carriers of democratic values who cooperate
on a horizontal platform, it must be a movement of equals. It does
not mean that there must be no leaders. But they must be elected
and must be accountable to the movement. They must be capable of
self-sacrifice, their place is the front line. And the leaders must
understand that in case of failure they must be ready to leave instead
of excusing themselves.