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GARIK AVAGYAN: "2011 IS THE YEAR OF THE FORMATION OF A CIVIC SOCIETYIN ARMENIA"
Vestnik Kavkaza
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/20941.html
Dec 14 2011
Russia
Garik Avagyan, the chairman of the "Justice and Democracy' public
organization, tells VK about the main events of social and political
life in Armenia and about possible trends in these fields for 2012.
- What were, in your opinion, the most important political events of
the passing year in Armenia?
- I believe that the most important thing is the 2011 is the year
of civic society formation in Armenia. newly formed civic society
manifested itself in numerous protest actions and social initiatives,
such as "We won't be silent", "Killer-free army" and so on.
Governmental structures can't pass everything with silence anymore;
they have to give accounts to the public. Some youth eco-oriented
initiatives that helped, for example, save the Trchkan waterfall from
hydro plant construction plans. The number of action group is few
for now, but it grows. Their influence on public opinion and home
politics is also growing.
- What is the final score in the 2011 conflict between power and
opposition?
- The conflict carries on. The number of opposition supporters is
growing due to adverse socio-economic conditions. And it made the
authorities turn from brutal force to dialog with opposition. However,
there is no guarantee that they won't turn back to brutal methods.
- How would you characterize the situation in the opposition camp? You
said that its position consolidated due to the increase of protest
mood among general population.
- Current deplorable level of socio-economic development is Armenia
plays in the hands of the opposition. The scale of public protest
is growing. The sense of fear created by the events of March, 1,
2008 has faded away, and that also helps the opposition to gather
rallies. The opposition is also better organized now: those who
didn't entirely agree with Armenian National Congress' leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan formed a new party - the "Free democrats" party. So the
ANC is left with most loyal followers. This process is only natural:
each opposition movement at first gathers all people who don't agree
with official policies but in fact have different political sympathies,
and then they part their ways.
- And what can you say about the situation within the ruling coalition?
- First of all, the "Lawful State" party drained all its potential
and will have to leave the coalition. As for the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia and its coalition partner "Prosperous Armenia", some
say that there is an ongoing rivalry between them. However, if the
"Prosperous Armenia" tries to play on its own, it will be crushed
by its powerful rival. In fact, "Prosperous Armenia" has only one
actual role in the Parliament - to create an impression that there
is a multi-party system in Armenia.
- What was the role of recent governmental reshuffles?
- It didn't change anything; it was not a systematic change. Those who
were fired were guilty of nothing but lack of personal loyalty to Serge
Sargsyan. The president also is pressured by external forces, such as
the US, to get rid of criminal elements within the state machine. But
the real struggle against crime is substituted by mere imitation.
- So how could you characterize the political year of 2011 in general?
- There were no interesting political events, as far as the official
government is concerned, it was stagnant.
- What are the top priorities of 2012?
- Our main tasks are to prevent the criminal structures from merging
with administrative structures. We also have to fight monopolies
that rob our people. Unfortunately, we can't hope for the good-will
cooperation of the ruling party, but I hope that the public society
will be able to influence the government. It is possible that the
next year will be the year of civic consolidation.
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK .
From: A. Papazian
Vestnik Kavkaza
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/20941.html
Dec 14 2011
Russia
Garik Avagyan, the chairman of the "Justice and Democracy' public
organization, tells VK about the main events of social and political
life in Armenia and about possible trends in these fields for 2012.
- What were, in your opinion, the most important political events of
the passing year in Armenia?
- I believe that the most important thing is the 2011 is the year
of civic society formation in Armenia. newly formed civic society
manifested itself in numerous protest actions and social initiatives,
such as "We won't be silent", "Killer-free army" and so on.
Governmental structures can't pass everything with silence anymore;
they have to give accounts to the public. Some youth eco-oriented
initiatives that helped, for example, save the Trchkan waterfall from
hydro plant construction plans. The number of action group is few
for now, but it grows. Their influence on public opinion and home
politics is also growing.
- What is the final score in the 2011 conflict between power and
opposition?
- The conflict carries on. The number of opposition supporters is
growing due to adverse socio-economic conditions. And it made the
authorities turn from brutal force to dialog with opposition. However,
there is no guarantee that they won't turn back to brutal methods.
- How would you characterize the situation in the opposition camp? You
said that its position consolidated due to the increase of protest
mood among general population.
- Current deplorable level of socio-economic development is Armenia
plays in the hands of the opposition. The scale of public protest
is growing. The sense of fear created by the events of March, 1,
2008 has faded away, and that also helps the opposition to gather
rallies. The opposition is also better organized now: those who
didn't entirely agree with Armenian National Congress' leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan formed a new party - the "Free democrats" party. So the
ANC is left with most loyal followers. This process is only natural:
each opposition movement at first gathers all people who don't agree
with official policies but in fact have different political sympathies,
and then they part their ways.
- And what can you say about the situation within the ruling coalition?
- First of all, the "Lawful State" party drained all its potential
and will have to leave the coalition. As for the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia and its coalition partner "Prosperous Armenia", some
say that there is an ongoing rivalry between them. However, if the
"Prosperous Armenia" tries to play on its own, it will be crushed
by its powerful rival. In fact, "Prosperous Armenia" has only one
actual role in the Parliament - to create an impression that there
is a multi-party system in Armenia.
- What was the role of recent governmental reshuffles?
- It didn't change anything; it was not a systematic change. Those who
were fired were guilty of nothing but lack of personal loyalty to Serge
Sargsyan. The president also is pressured by external forces, such as
the US, to get rid of criminal elements within the state machine. But
the real struggle against crime is substituted by mere imitation.
- So how could you characterize the political year of 2011 in general?
- There were no interesting political events, as far as the official
government is concerned, it was stagnant.
- What are the top priorities of 2012?
- Our main tasks are to prevent the criminal structures from merging
with administrative structures. We also have to fight monopolies
that rob our people. Unfortunately, we can't hope for the good-will
cooperation of the ruling party, but I hope that the public society
will be able to influence the government. It is possible that the
next year will be the year of civic consolidation.
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK .
From: A. Papazian