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WITH AN INEXPERIENCED HAND
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/12/08/138767/
DECEMBER 8, 2012 13:07
Long ago, in 1992-94, I was the press secretary of the President of
the Republic of Armenia and participated in a series of official
meetings. I want to share my modest experience with readers and
my young colleagues. When European, American, Russian or Iranian
officials and weighty politicians meet with their colleagues from
other countries, they comply with certain rules of etiquette,
regardless of whether that country is big or small, influential or
having no impact on anything. Non-interference in the internal affairs
of another country is one of those rules. Thus, it is ruled out that
Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca, a vice-president of the European Parliament,
would have told Gagik Tsarukyan that he could be a brilliant candidate
for the upcoming presidential election, as the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) states in the first version, December 5, of its press
release. A figure of that level cannot and doesn't have the right to
say such a thing about any politician in Armenia, the President of the
Republic of Armenia, in the first place. If, nonetheless, Mr. Roca had
forgotten about all the rules of diplomatic etiquette (let's imagine
such a fantastic thing) and had stated this kind of thing, I am sure
that both Gagik Tsarukyan and any other serious politician in Armenia
would have responded to that: "Excuse me, honorable Alejo, but let
citizens of Armenia decide how brilliant I am as a candidate. I don't
assess your chances to become, say, the Prime Minister of Spain, do
I?" I think it is as improbable that Mr. Tsarukyan would complain to a
foreign official that it was impossible to struggle against corruption
in the country, if the main corrupted persons directed that struggle,
as it is written in the same version of the statement. That idea is
doubtless in itself, and I have written about that many times. But it
is one thing when I, as a private individual, write about it in an
Armenia newspaper, and it is another matter when the leader of the
second biggest party in the country says that during international
talks. If they are corrupted, raise the issue of their dismissal
in the parliament, how can a European functionary help? Therefore,
probably, those who wrote the press release mixed something up again.
And I think the reason for that is not malevolence, but just lack
of experience.
"According to reliable sources, during one of the meetings in Brussels,
high-ranking European officials said during a conversation with
Gagik Tsarukyan that the cooperation between the Armenian National
Congress and the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), as well as between
Gagik Tsarukyan and Levon Ter-Petrossian, made them think that this
coalition was really unbeatable. Moreover, Europeans very clearly
showed that in this case, they will
support the party enjoying the people's trust as much as possible."
This appeared on Armenian websites. This is not a press-release, but,
basically, PR managed with the same inexperienced hand. Actually,
that disinformation is equally harmful for Tsarukyan, Ter-Petrossian
and European officials.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
From: A. Papazian
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/12/08/138767/
DECEMBER 8, 2012 13:07
Long ago, in 1992-94, I was the press secretary of the President of
the Republic of Armenia and participated in a series of official
meetings. I want to share my modest experience with readers and
my young colleagues. When European, American, Russian or Iranian
officials and weighty politicians meet with their colleagues from
other countries, they comply with certain rules of etiquette,
regardless of whether that country is big or small, influential or
having no impact on anything. Non-interference in the internal affairs
of another country is one of those rules. Thus, it is ruled out that
Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca, a vice-president of the European Parliament,
would have told Gagik Tsarukyan that he could be a brilliant candidate
for the upcoming presidential election, as the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) states in the first version, December 5, of its press
release. A figure of that level cannot and doesn't have the right to
say such a thing about any politician in Armenia, the President of the
Republic of Armenia, in the first place. If, nonetheless, Mr. Roca had
forgotten about all the rules of diplomatic etiquette (let's imagine
such a fantastic thing) and had stated this kind of thing, I am sure
that both Gagik Tsarukyan and any other serious politician in Armenia
would have responded to that: "Excuse me, honorable Alejo, but let
citizens of Armenia decide how brilliant I am as a candidate. I don't
assess your chances to become, say, the Prime Minister of Spain, do
I?" I think it is as improbable that Mr. Tsarukyan would complain to a
foreign official that it was impossible to struggle against corruption
in the country, if the main corrupted persons directed that struggle,
as it is written in the same version of the statement. That idea is
doubtless in itself, and I have written about that many times. But it
is one thing when I, as a private individual, write about it in an
Armenia newspaper, and it is another matter when the leader of the
second biggest party in the country says that during international
talks. If they are corrupted, raise the issue of their dismissal
in the parliament, how can a European functionary help? Therefore,
probably, those who wrote the press release mixed something up again.
And I think the reason for that is not malevolence, but just lack
of experience.
"According to reliable sources, during one of the meetings in Brussels,
high-ranking European officials said during a conversation with
Gagik Tsarukyan that the cooperation between the Armenian National
Congress and the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), as well as between
Gagik Tsarukyan and Levon Ter-Petrossian, made them think that this
coalition was really unbeatable. Moreover, Europeans very clearly
showed that in this case, they will
support the party enjoying the people's trust as much as possible."
This appeared on Armenian websites. This is not a press-release, but,
basically, PR managed with the same inexperienced hand. Actually,
that disinformation is equally harmful for Tsarukyan, Ter-Petrossian
and European officials.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
From: A. Papazian