Yesterday the first meeting of the open civil council sanctioned by Raffi Hovhannisyan, during which the composition of the shadow Cabinet was discussed, took place in Freedom Square. In Freedom Square, Nikol Pashinyan announced the names of people known to the public who could become part of the Cabinet to be formed by Raffi Hovhannisyan. N. Pashinyan announced from the podium the names of Hrant Bagratyan, Andrias Ghukasyan, Levon Barseghyan, the head of the Asparez club, Vahan Tumasyan, the head of Shirak Center, Vahan Khachatryan, the owner of the Gala TV company, journalist Hakob Badalyan, Artak Zeynalyan, a member of the Republic Party political council, Boris Navasardyan, the head of Yerevan Press Club (YPC), Karine Khodikyan, a former Deputy Minister of Culture, experts in the field of education and science Samvel Karapetyan and Nvard Manasyan, Stepan Demirchyan, and others. www.aravot.am inquired during a conversation with the aforementioned figures whether they imagined themselves in the Cabinet to be formed by Raffi Hovhannisyan. Andrias Ghukasyan, a former candidate for president, described this process as subjective and added: “It won’t be correct to say that what happened in Freedom Square yesterday was about the rating etc. Every one of us searches for roadmaps these days, how to move on, and I consider yesterday’s discussions in that context. I want to say that those are just opinions that should be taken into account, but nothing more as yet.” I personally was ready to lead our state and announced my candidacy for president. Naturally, as a politician, I am ready to take on the responsibility for the political future of the state, the country, and I am ready to share that responsibility with the political forces that are concerned about our country’s future, as I am.” Vahan Khachatryan, the owner of the Gala TV company, hadn’t fully familiarized himself with the process yet, but he stated: “I don’t imagine myself there, since I can never be in the government, regardless of whether it is the
current government or a shadow government. The reason for that is not only that I head an information agency, but also that it is in my character that I cannot be in the government, but I can make the government work for the people and myself through the taxes I pay. However, I myself cannot become a part of the government; I cannot work as a state functionary.” Boris Navasardyan, the head of YPC, also doesn’t imagine himself in that field and goes into detail: “Being in the shadow government means entering politics, and I don’t imagine myself in that field. I prefer doing what I do and influence processes, as a representative of civil society and not as a politician. And I think of the phenomenon as normal, since there are political developments, and all political forces that aspire to come to power should have a specific list of politicians, which will form the Cabinet. A new tradition is being formed in the Republic of Armenia, which I deem normal.” Ashot Bleyan, the director of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex who had received Armen Ashotyan, the Minister of Education and Science, at the Complex replied briefly that he didn’t know what we were talking about and just stated: “I am the director of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex; I know that quite well.” Samvel Martirosyan, a media expert, stated during a conversation with us that he had found out on www.aravot.am that his name had been announced in Freedom Square and expressed his surprise, “It doesn’t matter for me what political force makes the offer, but it has never occurred to me to continue my life in that direction. I have never longed for a career in the government. I have never wanted to be involved in state institutions. And generally, I think it is neither positive nor negative that my name was announced. It was just unexpected.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
