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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 17 2012
Tigran Khzmalyan: `Armenia has changed and will never be the same'
Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
The representative of the initiative group of the opposition political
movement Sardarapat, the well-known movie director Tigran Khzmalyan,
spoke to VK about social attitudes in Armenia, establishing a new
political elite and the coming presidential elections.
- The human rights protection movement is developing in
Armenia. The defenders of Mashtots Park, the Trchkan Falls, people who
are concerned about the case of Arsnakar, are a small part of this
movement. It seems that the activity of social movements and
organizations makes political parties pale into insignificance...
- Armenia has changed and will never be the same. This might
sound histrionic to sceptics, but the point of no return has passed in
the country. Civil society is taking responsibility for the country,
encouraged by the law of self-preservation. Many internal and external
factors influence the process. The main internal aspect is a new
generation which was born after the beginning of the Karabakh
movement. But the older generation lives as well. It is a generation
of those who strive to establish statehood and those who want to
devastate the country. The movement headed by the Armenian National
Congress in 2008 is fortunately coming to an end, because the ideas of
the ANC leaders haven't changed the situation in the country. It is a
sad paradox. The victory of the opposition which was possible in 2008
wouldn't bring systemic changes for Armenia. After the Karabakh war
Armenia experienced a liberal revolution which led to the power of a
group of authoritarian leaders. All three Armenian presidents
represent this group, they are follow-ups of each other. The main
result of their activity is ineffective management in Armenia,
disastrous inadequacy and an inability to assess the changes being
carried out in the country by the new `elite'.
- You mean the young people who stand against the
authorities are the new elite, are they?
- Yes, they are. A new elite consisting of the youth is being
established today. It doesn't realize itself yet, but its best part
demonstratively avoids so-called `political activity' in Armenia. In
fact, a substitution of notions has taken place in Armenia. The
society is sick of party activity, that is why the degradation of
parties is obvious. It was caused by a deliberate policy to discredit
the political parties of Armenia. Such a policy is typical not only
for Armenia - it is an international tendency. After the collapse of
the Soviet bloc, the political forces situation changed dramatically,
and a great imbalance appeared between the existing political parties
and society. This crisis is vividly illustrated in Armenia, and the
processes of development of the policy, economy and culture of the new
generation are going rapidly.
- In what direction should the new force work, considering
that at the last parliamentary elections a significant part of society
voted for the `old' system?
- Old games which are imposed on people still exist in
Armenia. It is ridiculous to say that somebody has won elections by
this or that means, because none of Armenian problems are being
solved.
- Why? The problem of remaining in power and maintaining all
corresponding goods was successfully solved by the winners...
- The power is not a target, it is an instrument. Today the
Armenian authorities hold bubbles which burst. They are doomed. I
think the smartest of them understand it clearly. They steal our time,
searching in vain for not only a billion dollars, but the way of
national development. It is ridiculous to decide with which side we
should be - Russia or America - considering 20 years of independence.
It means the authorities are inadequate. Regarding geopolitical
stability, Armenia is unprecedentedly stable, and this cannot be said
about other countries neighboring us.
- Therefore, the point is in mono-nationality...
- Not only this aspect, as Arabs represent one nation too. I
mean confessional and religious differences which can cause conflict
in a country. It happened in Iraq; it is happening in Syria and other
Arab countries.
- In February, Armenia will see presidential elections. Do
you think they cannot be an instrument of clearance of Armenia?
- The event which will happen is February is not elections,
but a show, like the parliamentary elections in May. Of course they
cannot be an instrument for power changing, as they will take place
within inter-clan and extra-clan agreements. The game is formed in
such a way that its main participant - people - will have nothing in
common with it. The mechanism of falsifications, threatening and
forcing is so effective that the nation has no chance to show its
will. But the regime has scare resources today. The authorities depend
on the views of their creditors. The country is on the edge of
structural changes in the social life of Armenia.
- Can young people who solved the problem in Mashtots Park
implement these structural changes without political parties?
- A government can be overthrown by a shooting in the
parliament, like in 1999, but it won't lead to overthrowing those in
power. Changing the system includes many components. The most
important component is readiness for changes by society. In recent
weeks environmental activists have appeared in Khosrovsky forest in
Armenia; an opposition appeared in Karabakh; the group `We Are Hosts
of The City' appeared in Gyumri, and so on. It means a total
decomposition of the old system, a total crisis of power. Sardarapat
stands along with these movements, and the police and the authorities
accuse us of conducting them. The accusations are ridiculous, the
authoroties don't realize the social situation in the country. People
don't want to deal with politics. They let the opposition deal with
it. All failures of recent years are not failures of society, they are
failures of the opposition.
- An opposition that was necessary for the authorities...
- At least today the opposition doesn't hide its dealings
with various political forces. The absence of a huge amount of people
at the current ANC protests which took place on Liberty Square in
March 2008 means that the society understands the essence and targets
of the opposition.
From: Baghdasarian
Aug 17 2012
Tigran Khzmalyan: `Armenia has changed and will never be the same'
Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
The representative of the initiative group of the opposition political
movement Sardarapat, the well-known movie director Tigran Khzmalyan,
spoke to VK about social attitudes in Armenia, establishing a new
political elite and the coming presidential elections.
- The human rights protection movement is developing in
Armenia. The defenders of Mashtots Park, the Trchkan Falls, people who
are concerned about the case of Arsnakar, are a small part of this
movement. It seems that the activity of social movements and
organizations makes political parties pale into insignificance...
- Armenia has changed and will never be the same. This might
sound histrionic to sceptics, but the point of no return has passed in
the country. Civil society is taking responsibility for the country,
encouraged by the law of self-preservation. Many internal and external
factors influence the process. The main internal aspect is a new
generation which was born after the beginning of the Karabakh
movement. But the older generation lives as well. It is a generation
of those who strive to establish statehood and those who want to
devastate the country. The movement headed by the Armenian National
Congress in 2008 is fortunately coming to an end, because the ideas of
the ANC leaders haven't changed the situation in the country. It is a
sad paradox. The victory of the opposition which was possible in 2008
wouldn't bring systemic changes for Armenia. After the Karabakh war
Armenia experienced a liberal revolution which led to the power of a
group of authoritarian leaders. All three Armenian presidents
represent this group, they are follow-ups of each other. The main
result of their activity is ineffective management in Armenia,
disastrous inadequacy and an inability to assess the changes being
carried out in the country by the new `elite'.
- You mean the young people who stand against the
authorities are the new elite, are they?
- Yes, they are. A new elite consisting of the youth is being
established today. It doesn't realize itself yet, but its best part
demonstratively avoids so-called `political activity' in Armenia. In
fact, a substitution of notions has taken place in Armenia. The
society is sick of party activity, that is why the degradation of
parties is obvious. It was caused by a deliberate policy to discredit
the political parties of Armenia. Such a policy is typical not only
for Armenia - it is an international tendency. After the collapse of
the Soviet bloc, the political forces situation changed dramatically,
and a great imbalance appeared between the existing political parties
and society. This crisis is vividly illustrated in Armenia, and the
processes of development of the policy, economy and culture of the new
generation are going rapidly.
- In what direction should the new force work, considering
that at the last parliamentary elections a significant part of society
voted for the `old' system?
- Old games which are imposed on people still exist in
Armenia. It is ridiculous to say that somebody has won elections by
this or that means, because none of Armenian problems are being
solved.
- Why? The problem of remaining in power and maintaining all
corresponding goods was successfully solved by the winners...
- The power is not a target, it is an instrument. Today the
Armenian authorities hold bubbles which burst. They are doomed. I
think the smartest of them understand it clearly. They steal our time,
searching in vain for not only a billion dollars, but the way of
national development. It is ridiculous to decide with which side we
should be - Russia or America - considering 20 years of independence.
It means the authorities are inadequate. Regarding geopolitical
stability, Armenia is unprecedentedly stable, and this cannot be said
about other countries neighboring us.
- Therefore, the point is in mono-nationality...
- Not only this aspect, as Arabs represent one nation too. I
mean confessional and religious differences which can cause conflict
in a country. It happened in Iraq; it is happening in Syria and other
Arab countries.
- In February, Armenia will see presidential elections. Do
you think they cannot be an instrument of clearance of Armenia?
- The event which will happen is February is not elections,
but a show, like the parliamentary elections in May. Of course they
cannot be an instrument for power changing, as they will take place
within inter-clan and extra-clan agreements. The game is formed in
such a way that its main participant - people - will have nothing in
common with it. The mechanism of falsifications, threatening and
forcing is so effective that the nation has no chance to show its
will. But the regime has scare resources today. The authorities depend
on the views of their creditors. The country is on the edge of
structural changes in the social life of Armenia.
- Can young people who solved the problem in Mashtots Park
implement these structural changes without political parties?
- A government can be overthrown by a shooting in the
parliament, like in 1999, but it won't lead to overthrowing those in
power. Changing the system includes many components. The most
important component is readiness for changes by society. In recent
weeks environmental activists have appeared in Khosrovsky forest in
Armenia; an opposition appeared in Karabakh; the group `We Are Hosts
of The City' appeared in Gyumri, and so on. It means a total
decomposition of the old system, a total crisis of power. Sardarapat
stands along with these movements, and the police and the authorities
accuse us of conducting them. The accusations are ridiculous, the
authoroties don't realize the social situation in the country. People
don't want to deal with politics. They let the opposition deal with
it. All failures of recent years are not failures of society, they are
failures of the opposition.
- An opposition that was necessary for the authorities...
- At least today the opposition doesn't hide its dealings
with various political forces. The absence of a huge amount of people
at the current ANC protests which took place on Liberty Square in
March 2008 means that the society understands the essence and targets
of the opposition.
From: Baghdasarian