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CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPING STEP BY STEP IN ARMENIA - OPINIONS
10:38 27.07.13
Though the civil society has not yet become eventually accomplished
in Armenia, it is beginning to step by step find its real place in
the society, according Stepan Safaryan, a secretary of the opposition
Heritage party.
The politician believes that the civil society institutions should
stand apart from political forces, as each have their own objectives
and implement their own project accordingly. Safaryan says it would be
naïve to think that the civil society can ever replace any political
forces.
"The political forces and the civil society are different concepts
in political terms; those are unions pursuing different interests and
performing different functions," he told Tert.am. "The civil society's
interest and objective is to offer a counterbalance to the government
power, while the political forces seek to accede to power. Their
objectives are different originally, so none of them can replace the
other. Any civil society appearing on the political arena without
changing its objective will become an amorphous body wishes only to
be a counterbalance, without coming to power or realizing projects."
Safaryan said the civil society's success in the recent campaign
against the hike in the public transport fares is a good progress
for it, which however, does not imply the institution has become
accomplished.
"What the society did was wonderful, of course, but to say that
the civil society is developed in Armenia would not be right; t has
to pass its path - both political and civil - like any other state
institution," he added.
Commenting on the civil society's victory in resuming former amount
of the bus fares, Andrias Ghukasyan, a political analyst and a former
presidential candidate, agreed that the success - despite being a big
value for the public - is not enough for considering the institution
accomplished.
"We have to realize that the civil society building is going to be a
step-by-step process; we now have the strong anchor, a process which
has taken shape. I am sure the youth will continue the struggle,"
said he, adding that the process is likely to yield tangible benefits
in the course of time.
But Ghukasyan didn't agree that a precedent will be a good lesson
for the ruling authorities.
"I don't think the criminal oligarchs will essentially change their
behavior and worldview. This is a regime which survives at the public's
expense, so taking the public opinion into consideration is ruled
out for them as that would reduce their anchor to pieces.
Therefore I think that the phase we'll enter will see formalities
increase, with both the government and the state institutions taking
seemingly open and democratic steps. That may last some time but it
is necessary to be ready for the right answer without being misled,"
he said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
10:38 27.07.13
Though the civil society has not yet become eventually accomplished
in Armenia, it is beginning to step by step find its real place in
the society, according Stepan Safaryan, a secretary of the opposition
Heritage party.
The politician believes that the civil society institutions should
stand apart from political forces, as each have their own objectives
and implement their own project accordingly. Safaryan says it would be
naïve to think that the civil society can ever replace any political
forces.
"The political forces and the civil society are different concepts
in political terms; those are unions pursuing different interests and
performing different functions," he told Tert.am. "The civil society's
interest and objective is to offer a counterbalance to the government
power, while the political forces seek to accede to power. Their
objectives are different originally, so none of them can replace the
other. Any civil society appearing on the political arena without
changing its objective will become an amorphous body wishes only to
be a counterbalance, without coming to power or realizing projects."
Safaryan said the civil society's success in the recent campaign
against the hike in the public transport fares is a good progress
for it, which however, does not imply the institution has become
accomplished.
"What the society did was wonderful, of course, but to say that
the civil society is developed in Armenia would not be right; t has
to pass its path - both political and civil - like any other state
institution," he added.
Commenting on the civil society's victory in resuming former amount
of the bus fares, Andrias Ghukasyan, a political analyst and a former
presidential candidate, agreed that the success - despite being a big
value for the public - is not enough for considering the institution
accomplished.
"We have to realize that the civil society building is going to be a
step-by-step process; we now have the strong anchor, a process which
has taken shape. I am sure the youth will continue the struggle,"
said he, adding that the process is likely to yield tangible benefits
in the course of time.
But Ghukasyan didn't agree that a precedent will be a good lesson
for the ruling authorities.
"I don't think the criminal oligarchs will essentially change their
behavior and worldview. This is a regime which survives at the public's
expense, so taking the public opinion into consideration is ruled
out for them as that would reduce their anchor to pieces.
Therefore I think that the phase we'll enter will see formalities
increase, with both the government and the state institutions taking
seemingly open and democratic steps. That may last some time but it
is necessary to be ready for the right answer without being misled,"
he said.
Armenian News - Tert.am