Algis Zhuraitis, a famous Soviet director, wrote an article in the Pravda newspaper in 1978 as if in support of Tchaikovsky’s opera and actually “attacking” Alfred Schnittke who had arranged that opera and director Yuri Lyubimov who was supposed to stage that opera in Paris. The article was written in the bashing and accusatory manner, which was required in
the party’s official newspaper, the director of which was Mikhail Suslov, the main ideologist of the country at the time, at whose behest such blasting articles emerged. Even today, in independent Armenia, pro-government and opposition parties and their spokespersons, most of whom haven’t even heard the name Suslov continue to write in the same spirit striking “fatal blows” against “ideological opponents.” However, the interesting thing there was Schnittke’s reaction. “After that incident, I stopped paying attention to Zhuraitis,” the composer recalled later.
In such cases, it is the only right option. Thus, with regard to fencing, the right thing to do is to stop it as soon as possible. Otherwise, our party members, particularly members of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), like to complicate the matter: “I will not respond to this…,” “I don’t deem necessary to comment on this…,” “I would suggest some people…,” “I would urge some politicians…,” etc. When there are such biting remarks, the most rational option is not to respond. And if we rise to the level of intergovernmental relations? Not everything is clear here. For example, the US Congress confirmed the “black list” of Russian officials who, in Washington’s opinion, have something to do with lawyer Sergei Magnitsky’s murder. The action itself is ridiculous, because, the US Embassies have the right not to issue a visa to any foreign citizen, in the first place, moreover, not giving any explanation. Certainly, the Russians have made a more ridiculous retaliatory action – they are drawing up their own “black list,” which will include those American soldiers who were engaged in military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Not to respond to the Americans’ “muscle-flexing” seems impossible, but the response is quite stupid. And in the end, when “retaliatory actions” cause hundreds of human tragedies. Hamas has fired rockets at Israel. In response to that crime, Israel has committed a ten times bigger crime, turning the Gaza Strip into hell. Generally, war is a ridiculous thing. I think an ordinary argument too.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
