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SARKISIAN BLAMES THE PEOPLE FOR ARMENIA'S WOES
http://asbarez.com/108947/sarkisian-blames-the-people-for-armenia%E2%80%99s-woes/
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
President Serzh Sarkisian meets select members of the broadcast media
during a rare press conference Monday (Official photo)
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
Beware citizens of Armenia (and to an extent the Diaspora) you are to
blame for Armenia's woes-poverty, lack of social justice and rule of
law, emigration, economic monopolies, usurpation of power, the rape of
the environment, election fraud... At least that's what President Serzh
Sarkisian, who according to his official results, won the election
on February 19, believes and said during a rare press conference on
March 18 with select representatives of the broadcast media.
"The biggest problem of our country is not corrupt officials. The
biggest problem of our country is not criminals. The biggest problem
of country is a cynical atmosphere. That cynical atmosphere must be
eliminated," said Sarkisian, who also laid the blame on this so-called
atmosphere on certain media outlets. "At least two TV stations and
dozens of print and online media outlets have been talking only about
bad phenomena and only tarnishing everything."
What Sarkisian is saying is that if the people didn't believe what
they read or saw on television, they would not be so "cynical."
Essentially, he is insulting the intelligence of his own citizens
whose daily struggle for survival resonated when they cast their
ballots overwhelmingly for change.
Even if the "official" elections results were not disputed, by
sarcastically brushing aside the ills that have plagued Armenia for
the past 22 years, Sarkisian is ignoring the will of some 40 percent
of the country's population by claiming that there is a rosier picture
than meets the eye.
Another reality being ignored by Sarkisian is that according to
official results 40 percent of Armenia's voters elected a Diaspora
Armenian as their leader, thus significantly bridging a massive gap
left open by 70 years of Soviet rule and not closed by the efforts
of Sarkisian's own Diaspora Minister or Ministry.
Most striking was his effort to belittle the popular movement that
sprung up as a result of flagrant fraud during the elections. The
movement, led by opposition candidate Raffi Hovannisian, has been
continuing for more than a month. Sarkisian's attempt to downplay
the post-election situation in Armenia is, at best, childish.
"When they say that the people are out in the streets it sounds very
strange to me. On average, only 3,000 people participate in these
rallies taking place in Liberty Square ... Even if the opinion of
every person matters to us, 3,000 people account for only 0.1 percent
of our citizens," said Sarkisian.
I will not go into the he said-he said about his February 21 meeting
with Hovannisian, because his condescending attitude toward the
people's legitimate expression of mistrust and dissatisfaction far
outweighs the palace intrigue he seeks to paint.
On emigration, Sarkisian said during the press conference, that those
leaving for Russia-in droves-have the same opportunity in Armenia
to establish a viable life for themselves, but leave due to the
"cynical" atmosphere created in Armenia. During one of his campaign
stops, Sarkisian talked about emigration saying that neither he,
nor his government, can hold anyone "prisoner" in Armenia.
He also said there are no oligarchs in parliament, but rather
successful businesspeople who through the toil of their sweat have
achieved success.
At the more than two-hour long press conference, Sarkisian went on to
outline some slight gains in Armenia's economy, as well as the fact
that presidential election campaign was not marred by mudslinging as
signs of an improving country. He even went as far as to tell Yerkir
Media's Gegham Manoukian that ten years ago he would not be standing
at the presidential palace asking questions of the president, because
his television station is often critical of the government. So, the
people-and the press-must finally rejoice that the freedoms ingrained
in Armenia's Constitution are being taken into consideration-however
haphazardly and selectively-20 years later.
This "Rome wasn't built in one day" analogy, which was also echoed by
Prime Minster Tigran Sargsyan when he met with community leaders in
Los Angeles, is tired and, more importantly dishonest. The people of
Armenia are also tired of the dishonesty of the government and they see
through the corruption that has become institutionalized in Armenia.
By usurping Armenia's national wealth and distributing it among four
or five people, causing a mass exodus of Armenia's citizens to the four
corners of world, the country's president cannot turn around and blame
his own people for the resulting chaos and misery. It is criminal.
Sarkisian's reckless disregard for and dismissal of the people's
will is a harbinger of things to come. In the coming five years
and at every turn, the public will have to bear the responsibility
for the government's misdeeds and impunity. By going on record,
Sarkisian effectively has absolved himself of any responsibility
toward his citizens.
The thousands that have-and will-gather at Liberty Square to express
their discontent deserve better than to be spat upon by the person
who claims is their leader.
http://asbarez.com/108947/sarkisian-blames-the-people-for-armenia%E2%80%99s-woes/
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
President Serzh Sarkisian meets select members of the broadcast media
during a rare press conference Monday (Official photo)
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
Beware citizens of Armenia (and to an extent the Diaspora) you are to
blame for Armenia's woes-poverty, lack of social justice and rule of
law, emigration, economic monopolies, usurpation of power, the rape of
the environment, election fraud... At least that's what President Serzh
Sarkisian, who according to his official results, won the election
on February 19, believes and said during a rare press conference on
March 18 with select representatives of the broadcast media.
"The biggest problem of our country is not corrupt officials. The
biggest problem of our country is not criminals. The biggest problem
of country is a cynical atmosphere. That cynical atmosphere must be
eliminated," said Sarkisian, who also laid the blame on this so-called
atmosphere on certain media outlets. "At least two TV stations and
dozens of print and online media outlets have been talking only about
bad phenomena and only tarnishing everything."
What Sarkisian is saying is that if the people didn't believe what
they read or saw on television, they would not be so "cynical."
Essentially, he is insulting the intelligence of his own citizens
whose daily struggle for survival resonated when they cast their
ballots overwhelmingly for change.
Even if the "official" elections results were not disputed, by
sarcastically brushing aside the ills that have plagued Armenia for
the past 22 years, Sarkisian is ignoring the will of some 40 percent
of the country's population by claiming that there is a rosier picture
than meets the eye.
Another reality being ignored by Sarkisian is that according to
official results 40 percent of Armenia's voters elected a Diaspora
Armenian as their leader, thus significantly bridging a massive gap
left open by 70 years of Soviet rule and not closed by the efforts
of Sarkisian's own Diaspora Minister or Ministry.
Most striking was his effort to belittle the popular movement that
sprung up as a result of flagrant fraud during the elections. The
movement, led by opposition candidate Raffi Hovannisian, has been
continuing for more than a month. Sarkisian's attempt to downplay
the post-election situation in Armenia is, at best, childish.
"When they say that the people are out in the streets it sounds very
strange to me. On average, only 3,000 people participate in these
rallies taking place in Liberty Square ... Even if the opinion of
every person matters to us, 3,000 people account for only 0.1 percent
of our citizens," said Sarkisian.
I will not go into the he said-he said about his February 21 meeting
with Hovannisian, because his condescending attitude toward the
people's legitimate expression of mistrust and dissatisfaction far
outweighs the palace intrigue he seeks to paint.
On emigration, Sarkisian said during the press conference, that those
leaving for Russia-in droves-have the same opportunity in Armenia
to establish a viable life for themselves, but leave due to the
"cynical" atmosphere created in Armenia. During one of his campaign
stops, Sarkisian talked about emigration saying that neither he,
nor his government, can hold anyone "prisoner" in Armenia.
He also said there are no oligarchs in parliament, but rather
successful businesspeople who through the toil of their sweat have
achieved success.
At the more than two-hour long press conference, Sarkisian went on to
outline some slight gains in Armenia's economy, as well as the fact
that presidential election campaign was not marred by mudslinging as
signs of an improving country. He even went as far as to tell Yerkir
Media's Gegham Manoukian that ten years ago he would not be standing
at the presidential palace asking questions of the president, because
his television station is often critical of the government. So, the
people-and the press-must finally rejoice that the freedoms ingrained
in Armenia's Constitution are being taken into consideration-however
haphazardly and selectively-20 years later.
This "Rome wasn't built in one day" analogy, which was also echoed by
Prime Minster Tigran Sargsyan when he met with community leaders in
Los Angeles, is tired and, more importantly dishonest. The people of
Armenia are also tired of the dishonesty of the government and they see
through the corruption that has become institutionalized in Armenia.
By usurping Armenia's national wealth and distributing it among four
or five people, causing a mass exodus of Armenia's citizens to the four
corners of world, the country's president cannot turn around and blame
his own people for the resulting chaos and misery. It is criminal.
Sarkisian's reckless disregard for and dismissal of the people's
will is a harbinger of things to come. In the coming five years
and at every turn, the public will have to bear the responsibility
for the government's misdeeds and impunity. By going on record,
Sarkisian effectively has absolved himself of any responsibility
toward his citizens.
The thousands that have-and will-gather at Liberty Square to express
their discontent deserve better than to be spat upon by the person
who claims is their leader.