Tweet
OPPOSITION TACTIC BACKFIRES: THE IMPERATIVE FOR DIPLOMACY 101
http://asbarez.com/114643/opposition-tactic-backfires-the-imperative-for-diplomacy-101/
Thursday, October 3rd, 2013
Zaruhi Postanjian
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
On Wednesday, opposition parliament member from the Heritage Party
Zaruhi Postanjian found herself in the middle of maelstrom of
controversy and attack after she chose an unlikely forum to lash
out at the Armenian president. This further highlights the lack of
diplomatic finesse that plagues Armenian representatives as they
travel the world under the banner of the Republic of Armenia.
Following Sarkisian's speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe session in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Postanjian,
using her pulpit during a Q&A session, chose to ask Sarkisian whether
he had gambled away 70 million euros in a European casino and who
had paid for his losses.
After accusing him of vote-rigging during the last election cycle in
Armenia, Postanjian said: "That is why you cannot de jure represent
the will and the rights of the Armenian people here. I will therefore
ask you another question. Have you been to a European casino lately,
and - since you are known to the public as a gambler - did you lose
70 million euros ($95 million) there and who paid for your loss?"
"Mrs. Postanjian, I am deeply convinced that I represent the Armenian
people and I am proud of that," Sarkisian responded. "I have never
been to any casino in Europe, I don't gamble, and unfortunately I
don't have 70 million euros at my disposal," he said. "If I had such
a chance I would donate part of [that sum] to you to make sure you
are happy with life and do not accumulate so much malice."
This exchange set off a firestorm with social media networks in
Armenia and Diaspora lighting up with criticism and some over-the-top
name calling, which is neither befitting a politician nor an elected
official representing Armenia in a foreign country.
This incident also promoted members of the Republican Party of Armenia
to stoop lower than usual in their rhetoric with one Republican
member, Karen Avagian writing on his Facebook page, "Today Zaruhi
Postanjian was more of a Turk than any Turk, more of an Azerbaijani
than any Azerbaijani."
Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, on the other hand, has threatened
to strip Postanjian of her seat in PACE, calling her remarks "slander."
In his speech at PACE, Sarkisian made plenty of statements that could
have been criticized, even by his own delegation members. For example,
Sarkisian asserted that Armenia was a democratic country adhering
to European norms and that people's right to free speech and press
were protected.
This and many other statements could have been easily countered given
Armenia's poor record in protecting those essential freedoms. But
Postanjian, for some reason, opted to use the international forum to
criticize the leadership based on street gossip and innuendo. This
certainly weakened the already fragile credibility of the Heritage
Party.
It was also a surprise coming from Postanjian who has been a staunch
advocate of Armenia's rights in the European forum and has garnered
praise from various facets of Armenian political life for her role
in advancing Armenian interests, especially as it pertains to the
continued Azeri efforts to lie and use propaganda to get their feeble
points across, especially at PACE.
Postanjian should have exercised more thought and diplomacy, but the
entire episode is emblematic of a political system that has advanced
individual aspirations of officials over the will of the people
they represent.
Amot! Shame!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/114643/opposition-tactic-backfires-the-imperative-for-diplomacy-101/
Thursday, October 3rd, 2013
Zaruhi Postanjian
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
On Wednesday, opposition parliament member from the Heritage Party
Zaruhi Postanjian found herself in the middle of maelstrom of
controversy and attack after she chose an unlikely forum to lash
out at the Armenian president. This further highlights the lack of
diplomatic finesse that plagues Armenian representatives as they
travel the world under the banner of the Republic of Armenia.
Following Sarkisian's speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe session in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Postanjian,
using her pulpit during a Q&A session, chose to ask Sarkisian whether
he had gambled away 70 million euros in a European casino and who
had paid for his losses.
After accusing him of vote-rigging during the last election cycle in
Armenia, Postanjian said: "That is why you cannot de jure represent
the will and the rights of the Armenian people here. I will therefore
ask you another question. Have you been to a European casino lately,
and - since you are known to the public as a gambler - did you lose
70 million euros ($95 million) there and who paid for your loss?"
"Mrs. Postanjian, I am deeply convinced that I represent the Armenian
people and I am proud of that," Sarkisian responded. "I have never
been to any casino in Europe, I don't gamble, and unfortunately I
don't have 70 million euros at my disposal," he said. "If I had such
a chance I would donate part of [that sum] to you to make sure you
are happy with life and do not accumulate so much malice."
This exchange set off a firestorm with social media networks in
Armenia and Diaspora lighting up with criticism and some over-the-top
name calling, which is neither befitting a politician nor an elected
official representing Armenia in a foreign country.
This incident also promoted members of the Republican Party of Armenia
to stoop lower than usual in their rhetoric with one Republican
member, Karen Avagian writing on his Facebook page, "Today Zaruhi
Postanjian was more of a Turk than any Turk, more of an Azerbaijani
than any Azerbaijani."
Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, on the other hand, has threatened
to strip Postanjian of her seat in PACE, calling her remarks "slander."
In his speech at PACE, Sarkisian made plenty of statements that could
have been criticized, even by his own delegation members. For example,
Sarkisian asserted that Armenia was a democratic country adhering
to European norms and that people's right to free speech and press
were protected.
This and many other statements could have been easily countered given
Armenia's poor record in protecting those essential freedoms. But
Postanjian, for some reason, opted to use the international forum to
criticize the leadership based on street gossip and innuendo. This
certainly weakened the already fragile credibility of the Heritage
Party.
It was also a surprise coming from Postanjian who has been a staunch
advocate of Armenia's rights in the European forum and has garnered
praise from various facets of Armenian political life for her role
in advancing Armenian interests, especially as it pertains to the
continued Azeri efforts to lie and use propaganda to get their feeble
points across, especially at PACE.
Postanjian should have exercised more thought and diplomacy, but the
entire episode is emblematic of a political system that has advanced
individual aspirations of officials over the will of the people
they represent.
Amot! Shame!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress