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OVERVIEW OF 2012 BY IGOR MURADYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/28508
14:56 25/12/2012
Interview with Igor Muradyan, political scientist
What is your vision of the political year of 2012?
After so many declarations on the exhausted social ideology the
political-ideological polarity strengthened in the world which was
reflected not only in Europe and Latin America but also in the United
Stated, as well as the Arab world. It is possible that civilization and
religious discourse is intentionally replaced by social ideologies in
which the great powers are interested but this wave did block targeted
initiatives. Perhaps, these tendencies will lead to the emergence
of new political and intellectual elites and ruling regimes, perhaps
the social ideologies will become more serious threats to stability
but obviously efforts are made to resolve the social problems in
the countries of the "golden billion", "transitional countries"
and in more successful countries of the "third world". The Armenian
political class has a possibility to study this previous ecperience
and not make big mistakes.
What are the achievements of Armenia in the past year?
Armenia became convinced that despite managing the economy according
to well-written rules it is imposible to achieve a breakthrough with
these methods. Armenia did not become a "heterogenous" economy which
needs unlimited liberalism and partial intervention, corporativism
and immediate mobilization methods. It was impossible to combine
the goals of establishment of the rule of law and elimination of the
oligarchic influence on the economy. The government is careful about
boosting the role of law enforcement bodies and the army in political
and administrative decision making. Technically, the mistakes of the
previous government were repeated. The real possibility of getting the
support of the society, first of all educated people, was missed. The
main goal - decommercialization of the vertical government and
limitation of the influence of capital on government and politics -
has not been achieved. As a result, major capital turned to outside
forces for help to come to power. This is totally unacceptable and
dangerous. In this case, it is not a matter of a rigid government
but its adequacy to real problems and conditions. The Euro-Atlantic
integration or cooperation does not require formal solutions but
new initiatives and ability to react to "crisis and conflict", not
"success". The goal of the government is to support those who are ready
to take a really high risk. Risk management is efficient management.
What did the year 2012 bring to foreign policy, what significant
things happened, were there real successes and failures?
The government encountered serious threats to national security and
understood that without dramatic change in foreign policy Armenia
will face big trouble while the government will crash. Apparently, it
was understood from a lot of materials and information signals that
Armenia needs closer cooperation with the Euro-Atlantic community
to avoid international isolation, get support in resisting to
external threats. Russia played a decisive role in our security but,
unfortunately, it preferred to further ignore our national interests,
Russia and its allies supply Azerbaijan with not only "defense" but
also offensive weapons. Furthermore, Russia considers its normal in
the relations among military partners. In addition, the political
government of Russia ignored opinions and positions of the military
agency and army, as well as intelligence services which did not approve
this policy. Russian-Turkish relations are highly suspicious, and in
this regard it is impossible to disregard certain perspectives.
The Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Euro-Atlantic relations are described
by high dynamics, and worrying tendencies are coming up.
Should a breakup of Armenia and Russia be expected?
It is impossible. Moscow is hysterical and irritated by the
processes and relations between Armenia and the West. However, no
serious intentions will be expressed. Russia will not take abrupt
steps that would aggravate relations in the strategic Southern
direction. Armenia is interested in strengthening relations with
Russia and CSTO, therefore it is necessary to figure out the boundary
of ignoring our interest. Two years ago I had to state that Russian
supply of weapon to Azerbaijan has a financial, rather than political
importance. The current state of affairs confirms this. Armenia is
not a formal participant of the CSTO but a partner which honestly
implements its commitments.
Armenia needs to shift from pseudo-diplomatic relations with the U.S.
and brotherly relations with Russia to political relations. It is
also necessary to set up new relations with France which is ready
to guide our interests in Europe, as well as with Germany. Relations
with Islamic countries are not bad and are developing. It is important
to understand and figure out general interests with China. Armenia
must be more active in such regions as the Russian North Caucasus,
Central Asia and the Baltic-Black Sea region.
What did the year 2012 demonstrate in domestic policy?
Complete devalvation and leveling of political parties took place
which are small corporations which are not capable of political
"action". Domestic policy hardly interests anyone, the young generation
has chosen the individual way of solution of economic and social
issues which boost emigration. "Individual choice" is positive but
only if the nation and the society are highly creative.
Unfortunately, we are not very good at creativity. The Armenian society
needs locomotives and the political and speculative groups benefit
from this by putting forth unrealistic "vassalage" projects - the
so-called Eureasian project. The government is certainly responsible
for the dissemination of such "projects" among the society. However,
it must be understood that real opposition is opposition to one's own
nation. Year by year new groups of interesting young people appear in
Armenia who have the new social and individual mentality, new vision
and sense of responsibility for the destiny of the country. One way
or another, they will enter into politics, and the best thing the
departing generation can do is to leave as soon as possible, even
those who are hardly over 50. They have lost and must admit it. The
slogan "Armenia belongs to us" is beautiful and romantic but has
been vulgarized and is cynical. They will return to this slogan by
all means but first it is necessary to forget about it. The one will
win now who will embody the principle "man cannot be free unless his
nation is free". There is a right time for everything, and there is
no need to have a criminal attitude to everything.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/28508
14:56 25/12/2012
Interview with Igor Muradyan, political scientist
What is your vision of the political year of 2012?
After so many declarations on the exhausted social ideology the
political-ideological polarity strengthened in the world which was
reflected not only in Europe and Latin America but also in the United
Stated, as well as the Arab world. It is possible that civilization and
religious discourse is intentionally replaced by social ideologies in
which the great powers are interested but this wave did block targeted
initiatives. Perhaps, these tendencies will lead to the emergence
of new political and intellectual elites and ruling regimes, perhaps
the social ideologies will become more serious threats to stability
but obviously efforts are made to resolve the social problems in
the countries of the "golden billion", "transitional countries"
and in more successful countries of the "third world". The Armenian
political class has a possibility to study this previous ecperience
and not make big mistakes.
What are the achievements of Armenia in the past year?
Armenia became convinced that despite managing the economy according
to well-written rules it is imposible to achieve a breakthrough with
these methods. Armenia did not become a "heterogenous" economy which
needs unlimited liberalism and partial intervention, corporativism
and immediate mobilization methods. It was impossible to combine
the goals of establishment of the rule of law and elimination of the
oligarchic influence on the economy. The government is careful about
boosting the role of law enforcement bodies and the army in political
and administrative decision making. Technically, the mistakes of the
previous government were repeated. The real possibility of getting the
support of the society, first of all educated people, was missed. The
main goal - decommercialization of the vertical government and
limitation of the influence of capital on government and politics -
has not been achieved. As a result, major capital turned to outside
forces for help to come to power. This is totally unacceptable and
dangerous. In this case, it is not a matter of a rigid government
but its adequacy to real problems and conditions. The Euro-Atlantic
integration or cooperation does not require formal solutions but
new initiatives and ability to react to "crisis and conflict", not
"success". The goal of the government is to support those who are ready
to take a really high risk. Risk management is efficient management.
What did the year 2012 bring to foreign policy, what significant
things happened, were there real successes and failures?
The government encountered serious threats to national security and
understood that without dramatic change in foreign policy Armenia
will face big trouble while the government will crash. Apparently, it
was understood from a lot of materials and information signals that
Armenia needs closer cooperation with the Euro-Atlantic community
to avoid international isolation, get support in resisting to
external threats. Russia played a decisive role in our security but,
unfortunately, it preferred to further ignore our national interests,
Russia and its allies supply Azerbaijan with not only "defense" but
also offensive weapons. Furthermore, Russia considers its normal in
the relations among military partners. In addition, the political
government of Russia ignored opinions and positions of the military
agency and army, as well as intelligence services which did not approve
this policy. Russian-Turkish relations are highly suspicious, and in
this regard it is impossible to disregard certain perspectives.
The Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Euro-Atlantic relations are described
by high dynamics, and worrying tendencies are coming up.
Should a breakup of Armenia and Russia be expected?
It is impossible. Moscow is hysterical and irritated by the
processes and relations between Armenia and the West. However, no
serious intentions will be expressed. Russia will not take abrupt
steps that would aggravate relations in the strategic Southern
direction. Armenia is interested in strengthening relations with
Russia and CSTO, therefore it is necessary to figure out the boundary
of ignoring our interest. Two years ago I had to state that Russian
supply of weapon to Azerbaijan has a financial, rather than political
importance. The current state of affairs confirms this. Armenia is
not a formal participant of the CSTO but a partner which honestly
implements its commitments.
Armenia needs to shift from pseudo-diplomatic relations with the U.S.
and brotherly relations with Russia to political relations. It is
also necessary to set up new relations with France which is ready
to guide our interests in Europe, as well as with Germany. Relations
with Islamic countries are not bad and are developing. It is important
to understand and figure out general interests with China. Armenia
must be more active in such regions as the Russian North Caucasus,
Central Asia and the Baltic-Black Sea region.
What did the year 2012 demonstrate in domestic policy?
Complete devalvation and leveling of political parties took place
which are small corporations which are not capable of political
"action". Domestic policy hardly interests anyone, the young generation
has chosen the individual way of solution of economic and social
issues which boost emigration. "Individual choice" is positive but
only if the nation and the society are highly creative.
Unfortunately, we are not very good at creativity. The Armenian society
needs locomotives and the political and speculative groups benefit
from this by putting forth unrealistic "vassalage" projects - the
so-called Eureasian project. The government is certainly responsible
for the dissemination of such "projects" among the society. However,
it must be understood that real opposition is opposition to one's own
nation. Year by year new groups of interesting young people appear in
Armenia who have the new social and individual mentality, new vision
and sense of responsibility for the destiny of the country. One way
or another, they will enter into politics, and the best thing the
departing generation can do is to leave as soon as possible, even
those who are hardly over 50. They have lost and must admit it. The
slogan "Armenia belongs to us" is beautiful and romantic but has
been vulgarized and is cynical. They will return to this slogan by
all means but first it is necessary to forget about it. The one will
win now who will embody the principle "man cannot be free unless his
nation is free". There is a right time for everything, and there is
no need to have a criminal attitude to everything.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress