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`What Will Be the Point in My Casting a Vote for That List,' Experts
Say About the Yerevan City Council Election Lists
March 29 2013
`Being engaged in local self-government personally for many years, I
know persons who more or less know the material, but I don't see many
such people on the lists,' Sos Gimishyan, a member of the Association
of Community Financiers and the leader of the Christian Democratic
Renaissance Party, expressed this opinion, while talking about the
lists presented by different political forces in the run-up to the
Yerevan City Council election. Then he added: `There is no conception
of local self-government either in the opposition or in the
government. It is a profession in the same way as a doctor or an
engineer. But it seems to everyone that whoever wishes can engage in
politics. This is a bigger task. People should have many years'
experience to try to govern a city. To govern Yerevan means to solve
the problems of one million people. Otherwise, it means to put those
people in jeopardy. Engaging in politics is a profession that requires
experience, time, and greater wisdom. For example, I will never take
the liberty of dealing with the issue of the cultural field or express
a serious opinion on that. Why do they take the liberty of doing that
in politics? It is deception; everyone tries to win over the people's
vote. And if we look at the issue from the political perspective,
those included in the city council election list should be able to
debate, oppose all that is going on in our country and our city. First
of all, the opposition should be such, but not the opposition declared
such by the government. And they have declared the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the
Pan-Armenian National Movement (PANM)-Armenian National Congress
(ANC), and the Heritage Party the opposition. At least three political
forces among them don't take an oppositional attitude. And the real
opposition is engaged very little in the struggle these days. In this
sense, perhaps, we can single out the Heritage Party.' Harutyun
Hambardzumyan, the head of the Choice is Yours NGO, in his turn, said
regarding the same issue: `A chess player, an actor, a famous
musician, people like these are included in the city council list.
Certainly, they are needed too, but if you fill the whole list with
their names, it is not right. I agree that the city council should
deal with cultural issues, not only social ones, but one can take one
or two people, not fill the whole list with their names. I know for
sure that those people will decline the list. The man who has deep and
comprehensive knowledge of politics, culture, has a general conception
should become a member of the city council.' We inquired how efficient
including 20-year-old youths, drivers, or suppliers in the city
council lists was, how efficient it was for solving the urban
problems. Mr. Hambardzumyan replied: `I am not against involving the
youth, but they should be people with experience. Now what is the
point in my turning out and voting for that list, in which young
suppliers are included?' Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/29/153274/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
Say About the Yerevan City Council Election Lists
March 29 2013
`Being engaged in local self-government personally for many years, I
know persons who more or less know the material, but I don't see many
such people on the lists,' Sos Gimishyan, a member of the Association
of Community Financiers and the leader of the Christian Democratic
Renaissance Party, expressed this opinion, while talking about the
lists presented by different political forces in the run-up to the
Yerevan City Council election. Then he added: `There is no conception
of local self-government either in the opposition or in the
government. It is a profession in the same way as a doctor or an
engineer. But it seems to everyone that whoever wishes can engage in
politics. This is a bigger task. People should have many years'
experience to try to govern a city. To govern Yerevan means to solve
the problems of one million people. Otherwise, it means to put those
people in jeopardy. Engaging in politics is a profession that requires
experience, time, and greater wisdom. For example, I will never take
the liberty of dealing with the issue of the cultural field or express
a serious opinion on that. Why do they take the liberty of doing that
in politics? It is deception; everyone tries to win over the people's
vote. And if we look at the issue from the political perspective,
those included in the city council election list should be able to
debate, oppose all that is going on in our country and our city. First
of all, the opposition should be such, but not the opposition declared
such by the government. And they have declared the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the
Pan-Armenian National Movement (PANM)-Armenian National Congress
(ANC), and the Heritage Party the opposition. At least three political
forces among them don't take an oppositional attitude. And the real
opposition is engaged very little in the struggle these days. In this
sense, perhaps, we can single out the Heritage Party.' Harutyun
Hambardzumyan, the head of the Choice is Yours NGO, in his turn, said
regarding the same issue: `A chess player, an actor, a famous
musician, people like these are included in the city council list.
Certainly, they are needed too, but if you fill the whole list with
their names, it is not right. I agree that the city council should
deal with cultural issues, not only social ones, but one can take one
or two people, not fill the whole list with their names. I know for
sure that those people will decline the list. The man who has deep and
comprehensive knowledge of politics, culture, has a general conception
should become a member of the city council.' We inquired how efficient
including 20-year-old youths, drivers, or suppliers in the city
council lists was, how efficient it was for solving the urban
problems. Mr. Hambardzumyan replied: `I am not against involving the
youth, but they should be people with experience. Now what is the
point in my turning out and voting for that list, in which young
suppliers are included?' Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/29/153274/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia