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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
May 15 2013
The new `old' government of Armenia
15 May 2013 - 8:10am
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A new Cabinet has been formed in Armenia. Addressing his new
ministers, President Serge Sargsyan said that the goal which was set
last year on providing 7% economic growth was achieved; the same task
was set for 2013. However, according to the President, `qualitative
indexes and certain indices of work efficiency and settlement of
social problems' are expected from the government.
The new Cabinet is not brand new because changes touched on only three
ministers - of economy, of finances, of sport and the youth.
The former minister of finances Vache Gabriyelyan was replaced by the
head of the Central Office of the government David Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan in his turn was replaced by Gabriyelyan. The Minister of
Economy is now the economist, the former deputy minister of economy
Vagram Avanesyan; while the former Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan
was appointed the representative of Armenia in WTO.
Weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan replaced Grachia Rostomyan in the Ministry
of Sport and the Youth. Experts believe it was a political step. When
Prosperous Armenia left the ruling coalition in summer 2012, President
and the leader of PA who is the chairman of the National Olympic
Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan, agreed that the Minister of Sport should
be a person acceptable for the sporting society of Armenia for
avoiding conflicts in the sporting sphere. The agreement requires that
this sphere shouldn't be politicized because it will have vicious
consequences for sport. Appointment of the multiple weightlifting
world and Olympic champion Vardanyan broke this agreement due to two
aspects.
Firstly, despite respect for the prestigious athlete by the
population, the attitude to him in the sporting world is ambiguous.
For example, Vardanyan has very complicated relations with some
sporting functionaries; his relations with Tsarukyan cannot be called
good as well.
Secondly, there is a political aspect. According to the secretary of
the parliamentary fraction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia,
Ovanes Saakayan, `the former Minister of Sport and the Youth Affairs
Grachia Rostomyan represented Prosperous Armenia which voted against
the governmental program. It means they are against the course of the
government; so the problem had to be solved.' Saakyan also expressed
doubts on possible problems between Vardanyan and Tsarukyan.
Two aspects are significant in this situation. First of all, being the
minister, Rostomyan froze his membership in PA. Secondly, Vardanyan
was President's ally for several years. Nevertheless, the agreement
was violated by the ruling leadership; the new appointment is a
political step.
As for the economic sphere, there are no clear internal political
grounds, but changes in this sector is much more acute than in the
sphere of sport, considering the hardest socio-economic situation. The
former Foreign Minister, MP from Prosperous Armenia Vardan Oskanyan
thinks that for achievement successes in settlement of numerous
socio-economic problems, the government has to provide radical
transformation - from the saving policy the country should shift to
the extended policy of growth. Secondly, resistance to changes by
oligarchs must be broken. Thirdly, the government should not
thoughtlessly follow the IMF's recommendations.
On the one hand, changes in the economic team of the government may
mean that the leadership understands existing problems. On the other
hand, appointment of two new ministers is not a sign of changing the
whole economic policy of the government. Time will tell whether these
shuffles are made for providing real changes in the country or it is
visible repairs to show the population that the government is striving
for real achievements.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/40268.html
May 15 2013
The new `old' government of Armenia
15 May 2013 - 8:10am
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A new Cabinet has been formed in Armenia. Addressing his new
ministers, President Serge Sargsyan said that the goal which was set
last year on providing 7% economic growth was achieved; the same task
was set for 2013. However, according to the President, `qualitative
indexes and certain indices of work efficiency and settlement of
social problems' are expected from the government.
The new Cabinet is not brand new because changes touched on only three
ministers - of economy, of finances, of sport and the youth.
The former minister of finances Vache Gabriyelyan was replaced by the
head of the Central Office of the government David Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan in his turn was replaced by Gabriyelyan. The Minister of
Economy is now the economist, the former deputy minister of economy
Vagram Avanesyan; while the former Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan
was appointed the representative of Armenia in WTO.
Weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan replaced Grachia Rostomyan in the Ministry
of Sport and the Youth. Experts believe it was a political step. When
Prosperous Armenia left the ruling coalition in summer 2012, President
and the leader of PA who is the chairman of the National Olympic
Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan, agreed that the Minister of Sport should
be a person acceptable for the sporting society of Armenia for
avoiding conflicts in the sporting sphere. The agreement requires that
this sphere shouldn't be politicized because it will have vicious
consequences for sport. Appointment of the multiple weightlifting
world and Olympic champion Vardanyan broke this agreement due to two
aspects.
Firstly, despite respect for the prestigious athlete by the
population, the attitude to him in the sporting world is ambiguous.
For example, Vardanyan has very complicated relations with some
sporting functionaries; his relations with Tsarukyan cannot be called
good as well.
Secondly, there is a political aspect. According to the secretary of
the parliamentary fraction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia,
Ovanes Saakayan, `the former Minister of Sport and the Youth Affairs
Grachia Rostomyan represented Prosperous Armenia which voted against
the governmental program. It means they are against the course of the
government; so the problem had to be solved.' Saakyan also expressed
doubts on possible problems between Vardanyan and Tsarukyan.
Two aspects are significant in this situation. First of all, being the
minister, Rostomyan froze his membership in PA. Secondly, Vardanyan
was President's ally for several years. Nevertheless, the agreement
was violated by the ruling leadership; the new appointment is a
political step.
As for the economic sphere, there are no clear internal political
grounds, but changes in this sector is much more acute than in the
sphere of sport, considering the hardest socio-economic situation. The
former Foreign Minister, MP from Prosperous Armenia Vardan Oskanyan
thinks that for achievement successes in settlement of numerous
socio-economic problems, the government has to provide radical
transformation - from the saving policy the country should shift to
the extended policy of growth. Secondly, resistance to changes by
oligarchs must be broken. Thirdly, the government should not
thoughtlessly follow the IMF's recommendations.
On the one hand, changes in the economic team of the government may
mean that the leadership understands existing problems. On the other
hand, appointment of two new ministers is not a sign of changing the
whole economic policy of the government. Time will tell whether these
shuffles are made for providing real changes in the country or it is
visible repairs to show the population that the government is striving
for real achievements.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/40268.html