Talking about Armenia’s parties, it is impossible to overlook a fact that has two heterogeneous and conflicting names among us: pro-Western and pro-Russian. It seems that pro-Western and pro-Russian parties are clearly outlined and clarified among us, and at times, we arrogantly believe that we finally understand them and their affiliations, but when once again the issue of political orientation strongly rises and stands before Armenia’s authorities, political parties and people, once more, such ideological and political confusion is arising that none of us comprehends. Such situation happened in summer, when all of a sudden it became known that Armenia, in the face of our country’s highest authority, assumed an obligation before Moscow and, personally, Putin to join the Customs Union.
It seemed that our pro-Western believers were to make much noise about Serzh Sargsyan’s decision, whereas our number one pro-Western and anti-imperialist, Paruyr Hayrikyan, is not making much noise against the vision of Russian imperialism, the Customs Union, but is just trilling, moreover, he does not accuse the authorities of Armenia on Customs matter, but only the imperialistic Russia and, personally, Putin. Our other pro-Western believers, also, criticize the authorities of Armenia on Customs matter just from weak to moderate extent, with the exception for the “Heritage” party, more precisely, Zaruhi Postanjyan. In fact, Zaruhi is not criticizing specifically on the Customs matter but on any other occasion. And, as for the Customs Union, mainly Alexander Arzumanyan and David Shahnazaryan are coming up with their speeches about it, moreover, the approaches thereof were not political rather than quite personal. At times, Igor Muradyan also appears in the internet sites with his personal approaches about the Customs Union. And many others also appear with their pro and cons approaches, while there is no party and systematic approach and attitude, and likewise there is no “Maidan” yet. And it is very logical and natural that there is no “Maidan” because those who should create “Maidan” are either among the authorities or are not among the opposition. And, even if they are among the opposition, they are not particularly radical. And vice versa, those who are more radical in the opposition, they are not particularly pro-Western. And even if they are not either pro-Russian, they are equally frustrated with the West and Russia. It seems that there is no common opinion and position even in inside the RPA on the Customs matter, and it is obvious that not everybody among pro-authorities share Geghamyan’s or, let’s say, Babukhanyan’s opinion on the Customs matter, and some of pro-authorities and officials, like Shavarsh Kocharyan and others, are skillfully concealing their opinion on the Customs matter.
Going back to the parties, once I have said and I will repeat now that the Communists is the only party in Armenia that had openly expressed their opinion about Armenia’s joining the Customs Union, while others, pro or cons, were not openly and clearly expressing their positions. And, in fact, they did not even go as deep as ordinary citizens and especially the taxi drivers on this matter. In short, like in many matters, the serious political approach in this matter is also missing. And the final impression is that the problems of our political parties are not social and political rather than mostly personal. Mostly.
Voskan YEREVANTSI
