Let us point out two of the promises made by President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan in his election program, “We have a brilliant opportunity to create an unprecedented situation that will be free of pointless political conflicts and tensions as a result of the presidential election.” “There will be no artificial walls between the state and citizens.”
Summarizing the results of the past five years, oppositionists claim that these promises have basically not been fulfilled.
Whereas Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Karine Achemyan was convincing us of the opposite during a conversation with www.aravot.am: “I think that many things have changed in that regard during the past few years, particularly, if we remember what the political stage was like a few years ago, how much malice and tension there was. Different political forces are able to have a dialogue to a certain extent now. That dialogue contributes to easing tensions. And the opposition always complains, since that is its right. It is not like all the issues are solved, and our life is ideal. However, the government always needs the constructive opposition, in order that the country develops faster. In reality, a very calm situation never awaits us. I wouldn’t say that there is a big gap between the government and the society, since the government, the RPA works with the society during the year, regardless of whether there is an election or not. On the contrary, there is a dialogue.”
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In response to our question what the fact that on the day of every Cabinet meeting, a protest was organized outside the Government Building testified to, K. Achemyan said the following: “It testifies to the fact that we have problems, which should be solved. There are such protests in every country. However, all problems are gradually solved. I hope that the election campaign will not cause much tension, there will be a competition, and the election will end successfully.”
What do sociological studies show? Professor Gevorg Poghosyan, the president of the Armenian Sociological Association and a PhD in sociology, asserted that according to the studies, “there is a gap between the government and the society. It hasn’t widened, but it
hasn’t disappeared either.” Answering the question regarding the political tensions, Mr. Poghosyan noted: “Perhaps the president meant the events of March 1 at the time. There was actually great tension at the time, that tension disappeared, but there is tension related to the pre-election situation now. Surveys testify to that; on the other hand, it is visible to the unaided eye. We noticed it long ago, and we think of it as political alienation, when a man in his country, village or town doesn’t feel like he is the master. When issues are solved without the society, it becomes alienated, and the gap widens. The government pursues its program, the society pursues its program; therefore, there is just no link or dialogue between the government and the society. Certainly, citizens are politically alienated in our country, which is one of the reasons for emigration. People don’t see their future, the future of their children in this country.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
