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MAKE-UP WORN ON DECAYING FACE
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview25203.html
Published: 18:44:08 - 21/02/2012
Interview with writer Vahram Martirosyan
Mr. Martirosyan, what differences and similarities are there between
the elections of 2007 and 2012?
I was not in Armenia on the eve of 2007 so I cannot compare
but the society has definitely undergone quality change, young
political activists who are honest and courageous have appeared in
the opposition movement, and it will influence the elections now. I
am a little disappointed with the passiveness of Nikol Pashinyan
during the elections. My main concern is that our society does not
have the maturity to consider this election at least as important as
the presidential election.
You mentioned Nikol Pashinyan's passiveness during the elections but
the recent election in Hrazdan was quite lively. But the results were
not disputed.
Please let me not compare Nikol Pashinyan and Sasus Mikaelyan,
the presidential elections and the local election. The opposition
tended to consider local elections as inferior. One may look for
logic behind this approach or not but I think it will mislead us. I
consider this election more important than the presidential election
next year because we can have political forces in parliament which are
not false as the semi-criminal and semi-administrative Republicans,
Bargavach Hayastan, let alone the Orinats Yerkir Party. Now there
is a strong and good opposition, the Armenian National Congress,
and the parliament may transform from a titular body to a real one
involving principled people whom we need. On a day in February 1998
Vazgen Sargsyan turned the parliamentary majority into rats, he died,
while the rats stayed. Now these rats are the government, and we wonder
why these problems occur or why such simple problems are not resolved.
However, all these rats care for is pilfering. They don't have other
principles.
Mr. Martirosyan, you said the opposition is strong, where is that
strength when everyone, even most ANC members say this force has
weakened and is not the same?
It is noticed, of course. I can speak about some missed opportunities
but I don't think it will be productive, I mean analysis should be
there but it must focus on the present and the past. Nevertheless,
the ANC remains strong with its intellect, principles, the political
features of the people who went to prison but refused freedom by way
of admitting doing something which they had not done. The ANC has
become weaker but it can become strong, there is nothing surprising.
The important thing in politics - the internal resource - is there. I
think the utmost must be done to overcome the apathy of the society.
Do you mean the apathy for the elections?
Yes in order to make people believe that the parliamentary elections
are a serious instrument. For me personally, they are an important
instrument to change something in Armenia. The president of the
country is one person. Even one with the best characteristics may make
mistakes, limited by pressure. A serious political force in parliament
may achieve a lot. Other forces besides the ANC may participate in
the reanimation of the parliament. It depends on their will to refrain
from fraud and deals for their own petty interests.
Mr. Martirosyan, everyone believes the Republicans and Bargavach
Hayastan Party will form the majority, the results of public polls
also indicate this. In fact, the lion's share will remain with them,
while the Congress will get very few seats. Will it be worth working
with the rats as you refer to them, being so few in number?
First, it is necessary to do everything one can in every situation.
Second, I don't trust these public polls. Third, the pre-election
period has just started, and the so-called street democracy wave
is still to come. The Republicans and Bargavach Hayastan will seize
each other's votes, it is inevitable. The same pro-government voter
or the person who accepted the election bribe cannot vote for both. I
think the difference between the results of polls and the results of
elections will be huge.
There is an opinion that bright people are needed in politics like the
people who are fighting for saving Mashtots Park, to achieve change.
There is such resource which is unused. The events in Russia are
still fresh, the creative class which is mainly of young and average
age did a revolution. I think in Armenia it is time for this class to
join the movement for changing the country. I mean the TV reporters
who already have two apartments and a nice car each, and if they are
fired, they will not starve, they will find a job. I mean people who
work in the IT field who are apolitical but must realize that this
is a crucial period to live in a freer and better country. This is
a selfish urge to live well, which for me is not just the salary
and income but the free society and fair government. So I call for
selfishness and urge to do everything to remove the ruling force.
18 years past the war, I look at the emigration statistics and cannot
imagine how the president, the prime minister, the government can sleep
at night. The pensions, even the salaries are not enough to pay for
the utilities. In other words, there is no hope from the government,
there is an urge to make up their faces. The ministers you look at
and are not disgusted are the make-up worn by the government, such
as Hrair Tovmasyan. Earlier Tigran Sargsyan was, but this make-up was
washed away soon. In the field of the media this make-up is heavier. I
noticed after my return from my latest trip that there is change,
there is more criticism, there are more modern TV shows. The opposition
media outlets are stronger, more in number than pro-government media
outlets but I am speaking about television because in underdeveloped
societies television has a stronger position. In other words, this
make-up is worn by television as well.
They would be a real revival were the first steps towards serious
results, real change. But this is make-up worn on a decaying face
because the challenge is the reproduction of the violent government
fed with corruption.
Is the intention of journalists to enter the parliament and change
the situation make-up? Is it possible to achieve change through the
journalists? The people who feel the pulse of the society? Has the
government understood something?
I think not. Some laws may become better, the speech of the members
of parliament may become more articulate but since these journalists
are not a union, their presence will not change anything.
From: Baghdasarian
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview25203.html
Published: 18:44:08 - 21/02/2012
Interview with writer Vahram Martirosyan
Mr. Martirosyan, what differences and similarities are there between
the elections of 2007 and 2012?
I was not in Armenia on the eve of 2007 so I cannot compare
but the society has definitely undergone quality change, young
political activists who are honest and courageous have appeared in
the opposition movement, and it will influence the elections now. I
am a little disappointed with the passiveness of Nikol Pashinyan
during the elections. My main concern is that our society does not
have the maturity to consider this election at least as important as
the presidential election.
You mentioned Nikol Pashinyan's passiveness during the elections but
the recent election in Hrazdan was quite lively. But the results were
not disputed.
Please let me not compare Nikol Pashinyan and Sasus Mikaelyan,
the presidential elections and the local election. The opposition
tended to consider local elections as inferior. One may look for
logic behind this approach or not but I think it will mislead us. I
consider this election more important than the presidential election
next year because we can have political forces in parliament which are
not false as the semi-criminal and semi-administrative Republicans,
Bargavach Hayastan, let alone the Orinats Yerkir Party. Now there
is a strong and good opposition, the Armenian National Congress,
and the parliament may transform from a titular body to a real one
involving principled people whom we need. On a day in February 1998
Vazgen Sargsyan turned the parliamentary majority into rats, he died,
while the rats stayed. Now these rats are the government, and we wonder
why these problems occur or why such simple problems are not resolved.
However, all these rats care for is pilfering. They don't have other
principles.
Mr. Martirosyan, you said the opposition is strong, where is that
strength when everyone, even most ANC members say this force has
weakened and is not the same?
It is noticed, of course. I can speak about some missed opportunities
but I don't think it will be productive, I mean analysis should be
there but it must focus on the present and the past. Nevertheless,
the ANC remains strong with its intellect, principles, the political
features of the people who went to prison but refused freedom by way
of admitting doing something which they had not done. The ANC has
become weaker but it can become strong, there is nothing surprising.
The important thing in politics - the internal resource - is there. I
think the utmost must be done to overcome the apathy of the society.
Do you mean the apathy for the elections?
Yes in order to make people believe that the parliamentary elections
are a serious instrument. For me personally, they are an important
instrument to change something in Armenia. The president of the
country is one person. Even one with the best characteristics may make
mistakes, limited by pressure. A serious political force in parliament
may achieve a lot. Other forces besides the ANC may participate in
the reanimation of the parliament. It depends on their will to refrain
from fraud and deals for their own petty interests.
Mr. Martirosyan, everyone believes the Republicans and Bargavach
Hayastan Party will form the majority, the results of public polls
also indicate this. In fact, the lion's share will remain with them,
while the Congress will get very few seats. Will it be worth working
with the rats as you refer to them, being so few in number?
First, it is necessary to do everything one can in every situation.
Second, I don't trust these public polls. Third, the pre-election
period has just started, and the so-called street democracy wave
is still to come. The Republicans and Bargavach Hayastan will seize
each other's votes, it is inevitable. The same pro-government voter
or the person who accepted the election bribe cannot vote for both. I
think the difference between the results of polls and the results of
elections will be huge.
There is an opinion that bright people are needed in politics like the
people who are fighting for saving Mashtots Park, to achieve change.
There is such resource which is unused. The events in Russia are
still fresh, the creative class which is mainly of young and average
age did a revolution. I think in Armenia it is time for this class to
join the movement for changing the country. I mean the TV reporters
who already have two apartments and a nice car each, and if they are
fired, they will not starve, they will find a job. I mean people who
work in the IT field who are apolitical but must realize that this
is a crucial period to live in a freer and better country. This is
a selfish urge to live well, which for me is not just the salary
and income but the free society and fair government. So I call for
selfishness and urge to do everything to remove the ruling force.
18 years past the war, I look at the emigration statistics and cannot
imagine how the president, the prime minister, the government can sleep
at night. The pensions, even the salaries are not enough to pay for
the utilities. In other words, there is no hope from the government,
there is an urge to make up their faces. The ministers you look at
and are not disgusted are the make-up worn by the government, such
as Hrair Tovmasyan. Earlier Tigran Sargsyan was, but this make-up was
washed away soon. In the field of the media this make-up is heavier. I
noticed after my return from my latest trip that there is change,
there is more criticism, there are more modern TV shows. The opposition
media outlets are stronger, more in number than pro-government media
outlets but I am speaking about television because in underdeveloped
societies television has a stronger position. In other words, this
make-up is worn by television as well.
They would be a real revival were the first steps towards serious
results, real change. But this is make-up worn on a decaying face
because the challenge is the reproduction of the violent government
fed with corruption.
Is the intention of journalists to enter the parliament and change
the situation make-up? Is it possible to achieve change through the
journalists? The people who feel the pulse of the society? Has the
government understood something?
I think not. Some laws may become better, the speech of the members
of parliament may become more articulate but since these journalists
are not a union, their presence will not change anything.
From: Baghdasarian