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What Zaruhi Postanjyan Should Have Asked...
00:53, October 6, 2013
http://hetq.am/eng/news/29845/what-zaruhi-postanjyan-should-have-asked-.html
By Raffi Elliott
Though we have already commented on the absurdity of the
Postanjyan-Sargsyan exchange which took place on the floor of PACE
earlier this week, the event, and the ensuing scandal continues to
divide Armenian society.
Many in the opposition Heritage Party, as well as various people on
social networks have praised her actions as a brave challenge to
President Sargsyan, while representatives of the ruling Republican
Party have slammed her comments as treason, going so far as to call
her a Turk or an Azeri. With member of the HHK faction in the National
Assembly, Arakel Movsisian (apparently unaware that his own expression
of disgust at an inappropriate comment was way more offensive on its
own) said: `She went to bed with a Turk,'.
The question at hand was the following: `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?' - Many defended the question as they say it unveiled the
president as a target of ridicule, while Postanjyan herself commented
to RFE/RL that she tried to ask as many questions as possible in 30
seconds that the Armenian people wanted to ask, but when asked about
the origin of the question relating to Sargsyan's alleged gambling
debts, she admitted that it was based on rumours that everyone knew
about (in other words, there is no substance).
Assuming, of course, that Postanjyan should have asked any question at
all, here is a list of questions we suggest which would have been more
effective to her cause, while preserving her diplomatic credibility:
`Mr President, in your speech, you mentioned that under your
presidency, civil society in Armenia has become vibrant, where
citizens are well aware of their rights. However, over the last month
9 peaceful civil rights activists have been viciously attacked by
government-connected thugs, and, despite promises by the Police, no
serious investigation has taken place. Can you comment on the
development of the Human Rights situation in Armenia?'
`Mr. President, you mentioned in your speech that your decision to
join the Customs Union was not one forced by Moscow, but a sovereign
decision on your part. Since you also mentioned that you proudly
believe that you represent the voice of the Armenian people, can you
comment on your decision to act unilaterally in that regard (despite
constitutional restraints), without consulting the National Assembly
or the Armenian People?'
`Mr. President, you mentioned that over 4 years of negotiations with
the European Union under the framework of the Eastern Partnership
Programme, that the government of Armenia has made great strides in
modernising the Armenian state to European Standards; a belief that is
shared by virtually no one else. Can you please explain to the
European Delegates and the Armenian people why Armenia's fight against
corruption, transparent modernisation and economic liberalisation has
been a resounding failure?'
`Mr. President, most economic indicators suggest that your financial
policies, as well as the grasp of the Oligarchy on the economy are
taking Armenia's already stagnant economy towards another recession,
can you explain your rationale for deciding to throw away 4 years of
negotiations which would have allowed us to join the World's largest
free-trade zone, and n1 economy, in order for joining the already
backward Customs Union?'
`Mr. President, despite the fact that you have been warned several
times by our European partners that the custom rates of the Moscow-led
Customs Union were not compatible with those of the European Free
Trade Area, you have insisted on going on the road to Moscow, and yet
you still claim that membership in both organisations is possible
(despite the contrary) Can you please dispense with the vague
statements, and explain to the European Deputies how you see this
cooperation with two mutually exclusive organisations possible?'
(assuming she wants to go for a shocking, yet diplomatic statement)
`Mr. President, You mentioned, on September 21st, that Armenia's
independence is an intrinsic value, yet only two weeks before, you
completed a series of actions started by your predecessor, Robert
Kocharyan, to sell Armenia's independence to the Russians. Your party
claims to be based on the ideology of `Tseghakron', what would you
think reaction of the Armenian Freedom Fighter, Garegin Njdeh (the
founder of the ideology who fought Russian occupation as much as
Ottoman occupation) would be to your actions?'
All of these questions could have been posed in less than 30 seconds,
in an eloquent and intelligible way which would have had the same
desired effect of embarrassing Sargsyan, yet with the bonus effect of
showing the world that Armenia's opposition politicians DO possess the
qualities to run the country in a more effective manner. Furthermore,
by asking pertinent questions related to the pressing topic at hand
would demonstrate to the European Partners that not everyone in the
Armenian political community accepts the president's decision, and
that cooperation would be more desirable with the opposition.
Raffi Elliott is a Yerevan-based commentator on Armenian political and
economic issues. His views are published on his blog www.mshak.org
00:53, October 6, 2013
http://hetq.am/eng/news/29845/what-zaruhi-postanjyan-should-have-asked-.html
By Raffi Elliott
Though we have already commented on the absurdity of the
Postanjyan-Sargsyan exchange which took place on the floor of PACE
earlier this week, the event, and the ensuing scandal continues to
divide Armenian society.
Many in the opposition Heritage Party, as well as various people on
social networks have praised her actions as a brave challenge to
President Sargsyan, while representatives of the ruling Republican
Party have slammed her comments as treason, going so far as to call
her a Turk or an Azeri. With member of the HHK faction in the National
Assembly, Arakel Movsisian (apparently unaware that his own expression
of disgust at an inappropriate comment was way more offensive on its
own) said: `She went to bed with a Turk,'.
The question at hand was the following: `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?' - Many defended the question as they say it unveiled the
president as a target of ridicule, while Postanjyan herself commented
to RFE/RL that she tried to ask as many questions as possible in 30
seconds that the Armenian people wanted to ask, but when asked about
the origin of the question relating to Sargsyan's alleged gambling
debts, she admitted that it was based on rumours that everyone knew
about (in other words, there is no substance).
Assuming, of course, that Postanjyan should have asked any question at
all, here is a list of questions we suggest which would have been more
effective to her cause, while preserving her diplomatic credibility:
`Mr President, in your speech, you mentioned that under your
presidency, civil society in Armenia has become vibrant, where
citizens are well aware of their rights. However, over the last month
9 peaceful civil rights activists have been viciously attacked by
government-connected thugs, and, despite promises by the Police, no
serious investigation has taken place. Can you comment on the
development of the Human Rights situation in Armenia?'
`Mr. President, you mentioned in your speech that your decision to
join the Customs Union was not one forced by Moscow, but a sovereign
decision on your part. Since you also mentioned that you proudly
believe that you represent the voice of the Armenian people, can you
comment on your decision to act unilaterally in that regard (despite
constitutional restraints), without consulting the National Assembly
or the Armenian People?'
`Mr. President, you mentioned that over 4 years of negotiations with
the European Union under the framework of the Eastern Partnership
Programme, that the government of Armenia has made great strides in
modernising the Armenian state to European Standards; a belief that is
shared by virtually no one else. Can you please explain to the
European Delegates and the Armenian people why Armenia's fight against
corruption, transparent modernisation and economic liberalisation has
been a resounding failure?'
`Mr. President, most economic indicators suggest that your financial
policies, as well as the grasp of the Oligarchy on the economy are
taking Armenia's already stagnant economy towards another recession,
can you explain your rationale for deciding to throw away 4 years of
negotiations which would have allowed us to join the World's largest
free-trade zone, and n1 economy, in order for joining the already
backward Customs Union?'
`Mr. President, despite the fact that you have been warned several
times by our European partners that the custom rates of the Moscow-led
Customs Union were not compatible with those of the European Free
Trade Area, you have insisted on going on the road to Moscow, and yet
you still claim that membership in both organisations is possible
(despite the contrary) Can you please dispense with the vague
statements, and explain to the European Deputies how you see this
cooperation with two mutually exclusive organisations possible?'
(assuming she wants to go for a shocking, yet diplomatic statement)
`Mr. President, You mentioned, on September 21st, that Armenia's
independence is an intrinsic value, yet only two weeks before, you
completed a series of actions started by your predecessor, Robert
Kocharyan, to sell Armenia's independence to the Russians. Your party
claims to be based on the ideology of `Tseghakron', what would you
think reaction of the Armenian Freedom Fighter, Garegin Njdeh (the
founder of the ideology who fought Russian occupation as much as
Ottoman occupation) would be to your actions?'
All of these questions could have been posed in less than 30 seconds,
in an eloquent and intelligible way which would have had the same
desired effect of embarrassing Sargsyan, yet with the bonus effect of
showing the world that Armenia's opposition politicians DO possess the
qualities to run the country in a more effective manner. Furthermore,
by asking pertinent questions related to the pressing topic at hand
would demonstrate to the European Partners that not everyone in the
Armenian political community accepts the president's decision, and
that cooperation would be more desirable with the opposition.
Raffi Elliott is a Yerevan-based commentator on Armenian political and
economic issues. His views are published on his blog www.mshak.org