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DASHNAKS V SARGSYAN: TRADITIONAL PARTY'S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PM KEEP UP POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN DEAD SEASON
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/47664/armenia_dashnaktsutyun_prime_minister_tigran_sargs yan_politics
POLITICS | 15.07.13 | 12:31
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Accusations by Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun)
Bureau representative Hrant Markarian leveled at Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan became the main political intrigue in Armenia last
week against the backdrop of a slack political season conditioned by
the period of summer vacations.
The Dashnak leader said the head of the government "declared war"
on the traditional party and was ordering "dirty gossip" against the
ARF in the media as part of this warfare.
The scandal began after a number of media in Armenia reported on
internal processes within the ARF, where unsuccessful attempts were
allegedly being made to dislodge Markarian.
In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service on July 10, the senior
ARF member said that such articles had been commissioned by Prime
Minister Sargsyan to smear the party that actively criticizes the
official over his failed policies.
It is yet difficult to say what the underlying reasons behind this
scandal are. On the one hand, this may be a defensive reaction of the
ARF leadership, which is really under criticism from within the party
(ARF members do not deny that such criticism does exist). On the other
hand, it may be part of a broader campaign against the prime minister.
This is already the third potentially "deadly" challenge against
Sargsyan in the past few months. The first one was mounted in the form
of the exposure of the prime minister's links to an offshore company
accused of cheating a local businessman out of millions of dollars.
This accusation has not been denied yet. The second attack on the head
of the government was in the wake of a seemingly insignificant report
by the Control Chamber, but Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan's
angry rant in the National Assembly during the hearings channeled
the criticism against the government and its head, in particular.
President Serzh Sargsyan rebuked the parliamentary majority later on,
thus apparently shielding the premier with whom he has worked during
his entire presidency since April 2008.
Abrahamyan also categorically denied the presence of any 'rivaling'
factions with the majority Republican Party as was alleged by media
that speculated about differences between the parliament speaker and
the prime minister.
And now it is Dashnaktsutyun that makes accusations against Tigran
Sargsyan, alleging that the prime minister had told his close
surroundings that he was at war with this traditional party. The
prime minister's spokesman denied any such thing, but it did little
to dispel tensions and the matter has become another tinderbox that
may explode anytime in the future.
Experts attribute the latest attacks on the prime minister to his
pro-Western attitude. Tigran Sargsyan has recently been regarded as a
major adept of European integration in Armenia. As holder of the top
executive post he is also likely to named by President Serzh Sargsyan
as his successor in the 2018 elections if, of course, he manages to
'survive' politically until then.
Those opposing Armenia's integration with the West think that by
changing the premier they will be able to change Armenia's orientation
as well. Armenia is expected to initial an Association Agreement with
the European Union in November, but some already call this prospect
into question given pressures on Armenia coming from pro-Russian
forces. Anti-Western forces in Armenia and abroad have apparently
decided to derail the initialing of the document with the EU choosing
the prime minister as the main target for the purpose.
Meanwhile, there is also another version. The ARF is rightfully
considered as a bearer of nationalist ideology in Armenia and as the
chief opponent of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement process in its
recent form. With the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015
approaching, major shifts are possible in the region and Armenia may
become an active participant in these processes. The ARF's passive
position in these processes remains a mystery to many.
Armenian Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepyan recently voiced
territorial claims against Turkey, to which the ARF reacted with
restraint. Perhaps Markarian's position in this matter, indeed, does
not suit the party's chapters, especially in the United States and
the Middle East. In the past they also demanded a more active stance
both on the issue of the Armenian Genocide as well as in domestic
politics in Armenia.
Which of these two versions is true is unlikely to become publicly
known any time soon given the closed nature of the Dashnaktsutyun
party. Unless, of course, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the
party is convened and a new party leadership is elected.
From: Baghdasarian
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/47664/armenia_dashnaktsutyun_prime_minister_tigran_sargs yan_politics
POLITICS | 15.07.13 | 12:31
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Accusations by Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun)
Bureau representative Hrant Markarian leveled at Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan became the main political intrigue in Armenia last
week against the backdrop of a slack political season conditioned by
the period of summer vacations.
The Dashnak leader said the head of the government "declared war"
on the traditional party and was ordering "dirty gossip" against the
ARF in the media as part of this warfare.
The scandal began after a number of media in Armenia reported on
internal processes within the ARF, where unsuccessful attempts were
allegedly being made to dislodge Markarian.
In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service on July 10, the senior
ARF member said that such articles had been commissioned by Prime
Minister Sargsyan to smear the party that actively criticizes the
official over his failed policies.
It is yet difficult to say what the underlying reasons behind this
scandal are. On the one hand, this may be a defensive reaction of the
ARF leadership, which is really under criticism from within the party
(ARF members do not deny that such criticism does exist). On the other
hand, it may be part of a broader campaign against the prime minister.
This is already the third potentially "deadly" challenge against
Sargsyan in the past few months. The first one was mounted in the form
of the exposure of the prime minister's links to an offshore company
accused of cheating a local businessman out of millions of dollars.
This accusation has not been denied yet. The second attack on the head
of the government was in the wake of a seemingly insignificant report
by the Control Chamber, but Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan's
angry rant in the National Assembly during the hearings channeled
the criticism against the government and its head, in particular.
President Serzh Sargsyan rebuked the parliamentary majority later on,
thus apparently shielding the premier with whom he has worked during
his entire presidency since April 2008.
Abrahamyan also categorically denied the presence of any 'rivaling'
factions with the majority Republican Party as was alleged by media
that speculated about differences between the parliament speaker and
the prime minister.
And now it is Dashnaktsutyun that makes accusations against Tigran
Sargsyan, alleging that the prime minister had told his close
surroundings that he was at war with this traditional party. The
prime minister's spokesman denied any such thing, but it did little
to dispel tensions and the matter has become another tinderbox that
may explode anytime in the future.
Experts attribute the latest attacks on the prime minister to his
pro-Western attitude. Tigran Sargsyan has recently been regarded as a
major adept of European integration in Armenia. As holder of the top
executive post he is also likely to named by President Serzh Sargsyan
as his successor in the 2018 elections if, of course, he manages to
'survive' politically until then.
Those opposing Armenia's integration with the West think that by
changing the premier they will be able to change Armenia's orientation
as well. Armenia is expected to initial an Association Agreement with
the European Union in November, but some already call this prospect
into question given pressures on Armenia coming from pro-Russian
forces. Anti-Western forces in Armenia and abroad have apparently
decided to derail the initialing of the document with the EU choosing
the prime minister as the main target for the purpose.
Meanwhile, there is also another version. The ARF is rightfully
considered as a bearer of nationalist ideology in Armenia and as the
chief opponent of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement process in its
recent form. With the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015
approaching, major shifts are possible in the region and Armenia may
become an active participant in these processes. The ARF's passive
position in these processes remains a mystery to many.
Armenian Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepyan recently voiced
territorial claims against Turkey, to which the ARF reacted with
restraint. Perhaps Markarian's position in this matter, indeed, does
not suit the party's chapters, especially in the United States and
the Middle East. In the past they also demanded a more active stance
both on the issue of the Armenian Genocide as well as in domestic
politics in Armenia.
Which of these two versions is true is unlikely to become publicly
known any time soon given the closed nature of the Dashnaktsutyun
party. Unless, of course, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the
party is convened and a new party leadership is elected.
From: Baghdasarian