When in early September it became clear that our country is going to enter into the Customs Union, as well as become one of the co-founders of the Eurasian Union, some were suggesting entering the question into the Referendum. One of my friends told that he is concerned that the referendum will be falsified, like all elections and referenda. To tell the truth, I have a deep concern that such a referendum, if held, would not be falsified, and the vast majority of Armenians would vote for these unions. Moreover, if the question is put into a referendum, whether you support Armenia to enter into the composition of the RF, I am absolutely not sure that the idea of independence for the majority of our citizens will be higher. But, since we do not believe in any sociological survey and referendum, it is not possible to verify my assumptions empirically.
However, the aggressiveness with which “anti-European” propaganda was held in the period prior to September 3 (as if Europe is a landfill o all the sins of the world), and the positive reaction that the propaganda was finding in the hearts of the majority of RA citizens proves that the public moods do not contribute to the European integration, at all.
In fact, here, as in many cases, we are dealing with stereotypes, and labels. Russia, Europe, the U.S., Singapore, Japan and so on, these geographic terms do not consume to what, I think, we should strive for. And our goal, in my perception, can be formulated very short, strong state, weak power. In other words, the state as an institution should be so powerful that no official fails to oppose it.
For example, Surik Khachatryan is a strong official (I am writing in the present time because his dismissal from the governor’s office did not change anything), without his permission no one can even install a stall in Syunik marz, the members of his family and his “fearful Guard” may attack any citizen of Armenia, if they do not like the expression of the face of the latter, his son committing a murder has been released without any serious arguments. Now tell me please where such powerful officials are more, in Russia, Kazakhstan, or, let’s say, in Norway. Tell me also which market operates more efficiently, in the place where the powerful officials have owned or have a share in all serious businesses, or in the place where the business is left to the initiative of private individuals, but is strictly controlled by the state.
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But the whole pain is that the majority of our co-citizens dreams of a powerful official, who he will hit his fist on the table and will solve their problem. It is an illusion; powerful official is a guarantee of arbitrariness, and not law and order.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
