On Sunday, mayor elections will take place in Spitak and Hrazdan. It will be rather interesting in Hrazdan, where the Armenian National Congress (ANC) has put forward a strong candidate, freedom-fighter Sasun Mikayelyan. He will try to, using congressional language, “crack the criminal-oligarchic pyramid.” The last phrase is probably right, but I cannot help but notice that only 4 years ago Mr. Mikayelyan was a representative of the same “pyramid.” The majority of oppositionists inArmeniawere formerly in power, but they think that they proved themselves as absolute angels. Well, it is not an Armenian disease. I think that something will change inArmenia, only when elections, particularly local elections will cease being a field of life and death struggle. E.g. in this instance, the governor of Kotayk, putting aside his direct duties, has engaged in the struggle and thinks that “having” the current mayor of Hrazdan assume the office once again is а point d’honneur and probably an issue of his further holding his office. It shouldn’t be so, an official appointed by the Cabinet has his powers and community leaders, elected by the population of a town or a village, have theirs. The ANC and the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) perceive the mayor election in Hrazdan as a “decisive battle” before the National Assembly election, the last chance, sort of primaries, which will determine the current allocation of forces. It is absolutely incorrect – mayor, in my opinion, should have nothing to do with the struggle between parties. I recalled my impression from Finnish city ofLahtimore than 10 years ago. A man in a sweater was standing behind us with a tray in his hand in an ordinary cafeteria and was patiently waiting to approach the counter. Nobody paid attention to him, there were no ministers, not to mention bodyguards next to him. Our Finnish colleagues explained to us that he was the mayor ofLahti. So, a man who must take care of the everyday problems of his fellow citizens and then mind his business. If one thinks of an office with such mentality, losing the election and letting someone else have an office is not a tragedy at all. On the other hand, being elected is not “cracking the pyramid,” it is just sharing burden with one’s fellow citizens. Well do I care whether the mayor ofYerevanis from the RPA or, let’s say, the Marxist Party? It is important for me that he has the streets covered with salt and sand. Unfortunately, it is not sufficiently carried out inYerevan. I can imagine what the situation in Hrazdan is.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
