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IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON FEBRUARY 18
Siranuysh Papyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/28687
Interview - Monday, 21 January 2013, 22:19
Interview with Saro Saroyan, historian, expert at the ACNIS Saro,
it is clear to everyone what will happen on February 18. What will
happen after February 18? I disagree that it is clear to everyone
what will happen on February 18. I can only say that the ruling
elite disseminate that there is no alternative to Serzh Sargsyan,
and the fight is for the second place. At the same time, the public
tends to think that Serzh Sargsyan will win. Nevertheless, there are
the electorates of the three candidates nominated by the opposition
parties which extend hope or confidence that their candidate will win
in the first or second stages. Besides, another public group is forming
which presents a different approach. According to these citizens, the
hunger strike of the candidate demanding revocation of registration
of Serzh Sargsyan's nomination will twist the foreseeable election
to the extent of thwarting the regime's plans. As to the processes
that will follow February 18, three scenarios can be foreseen - the
second round the regime will author or some expressions of protest
by one or two opposition candidates, or the legal-political casus
resulting from Andrias Ghukasyan's hunger strike. They will protest
and end up in the same way. What will be the possible ways out of the
legal-political casus? As a journalist, you expressed your opinion -
you dismissed the efficiency of post-electoral political processes
organized by the opposition after every election. The philosophy of
protest contains an extravert bias, depends on external perceptions
and signals, and sees the solution beyond the abilities of the subject
of protest. Since we deal with a citizen who has a special legal
status and protection, the presidential candidate, his actions aimed
at pushing the candidate of the criminal party out of the election
and his self-sacrifice will result in a clash. It is visible that
the national electoral process enclosed in international law and
obligations will result in a legal and political casus which will
make not only the ruling criminal regime but also our society and
international community face the fact. The clash of the candidate with
the society will eventually lead to self-determination of citizens,
the citizens will have to express their attitude to the candidate or
support the criminal regime in a certain aspect. If the first takes
place, the answer to your question will be yes because no regime
can stop a citizen who is self-determined, pro-active and assumes
their responsibility. Saro, one of the presidential candidates will
go on hunger strike and he will stop the hunger strike only if the
international observers interrupt their mission in Armenia because he
thinks it is meaningless to observe such an election. In your opinion,
is this a strong reason for a hunger strike? Let us note the statement
which is not popular among citizens. It is the process of overcoming
the weakness of politics and establishing our own rights. From this
point of view, the demand to cancel the international observation
mission should have been one of the demands of the public because
we know the international observation missions have always helped
legitimize the ruling regime. However, in order to topple the
criminal regime, operate the electoral mechanisms and establish
constitutional order the society will have to deal with its internal
"ulcer" and politics will be built in this field. Perhaps the demand
against observers as the first step is the right decision. However,
its answer will be given in the future.
Siranuysh Papyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/28687
Interview - Monday, 21 January 2013, 22:19
Interview with Saro Saroyan, historian, expert at the ACNIS Saro,
it is clear to everyone what will happen on February 18. What will
happen after February 18? I disagree that it is clear to everyone
what will happen on February 18. I can only say that the ruling
elite disseminate that there is no alternative to Serzh Sargsyan,
and the fight is for the second place. At the same time, the public
tends to think that Serzh Sargsyan will win. Nevertheless, there are
the electorates of the three candidates nominated by the opposition
parties which extend hope or confidence that their candidate will win
in the first or second stages. Besides, another public group is forming
which presents a different approach. According to these citizens, the
hunger strike of the candidate demanding revocation of registration
of Serzh Sargsyan's nomination will twist the foreseeable election
to the extent of thwarting the regime's plans. As to the processes
that will follow February 18, three scenarios can be foreseen - the
second round the regime will author or some expressions of protest
by one or two opposition candidates, or the legal-political casus
resulting from Andrias Ghukasyan's hunger strike. They will protest
and end up in the same way. What will be the possible ways out of the
legal-political casus? As a journalist, you expressed your opinion -
you dismissed the efficiency of post-electoral political processes
organized by the opposition after every election. The philosophy of
protest contains an extravert bias, depends on external perceptions
and signals, and sees the solution beyond the abilities of the subject
of protest. Since we deal with a citizen who has a special legal
status and protection, the presidential candidate, his actions aimed
at pushing the candidate of the criminal party out of the election
and his self-sacrifice will result in a clash. It is visible that
the national electoral process enclosed in international law and
obligations will result in a legal and political casus which will
make not only the ruling criminal regime but also our society and
international community face the fact. The clash of the candidate with
the society will eventually lead to self-determination of citizens,
the citizens will have to express their attitude to the candidate or
support the criminal regime in a certain aspect. If the first takes
place, the answer to your question will be yes because no regime
can stop a citizen who is self-determined, pro-active and assumes
their responsibility. Saro, one of the presidential candidates will
go on hunger strike and he will stop the hunger strike only if the
international observers interrupt their mission in Armenia because he
thinks it is meaningless to observe such an election. In your opinion,
is this a strong reason for a hunger strike? Let us note the statement
which is not popular among citizens. It is the process of overcoming
the weakness of politics and establishing our own rights. From this
point of view, the demand to cancel the international observation
mission should have been one of the demands of the public because
we know the international observation missions have always helped
legitimize the ruling regime. However, in order to topple the
criminal regime, operate the electoral mechanisms and establish
constitutional order the society will have to deal with its internal
"ulcer" and politics will be built in this field. Perhaps the demand
against observers as the first step is the right decision. However,
its answer will be given in the future.