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HIGH-LEVEL PERSONNEL CHANGES PLAN CONCEIVED AFTER 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, SAYS ANALYST
epress.am
11.14.2011
The changes in Armenia's leadership are not random, as many local
media and analysts have confirmed. There is a big plan of changes
among the elite, which was conceived immediately after the 2008
presidential election and was launched a year ago, Director of the
Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told reporters
today, describing the developments as a process of distancing the
oligarchy from power.
At the same time, Iskandaryan stressed that this is not part of the
election campaign, but on the contrary: preparations for the May 2012
parliamentary elections are part of this process.
"It is an attempt to remove the oligarchs from making policies. The
complexity of the process lies in the fact that in this case, those
in power are not fighting with the opposition but with themselves,
since those economic interest groups are within it, within the ruling
party," he said.
The political analyst recalled how a year ago, when, for example,
the Minister of Justice was being replaced, he couldn't talk about
serious changes, but after the recent resignation of the parliamentary
speaker, the country's second most influential position, the process
became evident. "I'm not saying that the process is complete or that
it will succeed. We are in this process, and it is the most important
thing happening in Armenia today."
Asked how resolute the country's leader is in the given situation,
Iskandaryan said: "I don't have personal conversations with
the president. I make judgments based on publications and public
appearances. Such revolutionary changes can't take place without the
president's agreement - they come out of the presidential apparatus.
Only he could initiate this process. We are neither Switzerland nor
the Netherlands, but at the same time, we're neither Turkmenistan
nor Azerbaijan nor Russia where serious issues are resolved with
the stroke of a pen. So it's a political struggle. And that which
is happening is a struggle because the people who go do not always
agree with these decisions."
As for the role of the opposition - namely, the Armenian National
Congress - in this process, according to the analyst, this depends
on the results of its participation in the parliamentary elections.
epress.am
11.14.2011
The changes in Armenia's leadership are not random, as many local
media and analysts have confirmed. There is a big plan of changes
among the elite, which was conceived immediately after the 2008
presidential election and was launched a year ago, Director of the
Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told reporters
today, describing the developments as a process of distancing the
oligarchy from power.
At the same time, Iskandaryan stressed that this is not part of the
election campaign, but on the contrary: preparations for the May 2012
parliamentary elections are part of this process.
"It is an attempt to remove the oligarchs from making policies. The
complexity of the process lies in the fact that in this case, those
in power are not fighting with the opposition but with themselves,
since those economic interest groups are within it, within the ruling
party," he said.
The political analyst recalled how a year ago, when, for example,
the Minister of Justice was being replaced, he couldn't talk about
serious changes, but after the recent resignation of the parliamentary
speaker, the country's second most influential position, the process
became evident. "I'm not saying that the process is complete or that
it will succeed. We are in this process, and it is the most important
thing happening in Armenia today."
Asked how resolute the country's leader is in the given situation,
Iskandaryan said: "I don't have personal conversations with
the president. I make judgments based on publications and public
appearances. Such revolutionary changes can't take place without the
president's agreement - they come out of the presidential apparatus.
Only he could initiate this process. We are neither Switzerland nor
the Netherlands, but at the same time, we're neither Turkmenistan
nor Azerbaijan nor Russia where serious issues are resolved with
the stroke of a pen. So it's a political struggle. And that which
is happening is a struggle because the people who go do not always
agree with these decisions."
As for the role of the opposition - namely, the Armenian National
Congress - in this process, according to the analyst, this depends
on the results of its participation in the parliamentary elections.