“Unfortunately, when the political forces are, the so-called, washing their hands from the processes of fighting with people, naturally, there would be only 20-, 30-, and 50-member groups. It could not be expected that we would have another result from the invaders instilling apathy, this disease, in the people for years, since this is the reality of today,” so responded Suren Saghatelyan, a board member of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center, today, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s observation. In the interview with iLur.am, the first President had said that “there are no pro-Western forces in Armenia in terms of politics, I stress, politics, and not in terms of values or cultural, except for sporadic individuals and marginal elements. Should we have, then instead of twenty or thirty-member protests, we would have long organized a multi-mass Maidan.” As said by Suren Saghatelyan, if the government wants the people to have a strong and active civic sector, it has it. “In the same way, if the government sets a goal for the sector to consist of 20-30 people, we have what we have. In this regard, this is the second case, when the civil sector is living and surviving at the expense of full enthusiasm.” At March 1 rally, Levon Ter- Petrosyan also announced that Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union is irreversible, whereas the European integration, in the foreseeable future, is impossible. Many people criticized Levon Ter-Petrosyan for this statement. As said by the first president, “It is the same as I have said that the earth revolves around the sun, and I was accused for it. For us, the opponents, I think the denial of my allegation should not present any difficulty. For bringing shame upon me, it’s just enough for them to turn the process of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, or at least to present a clear and convincing program of its revocability.” As said by Suren Saghatelyan, “Politics is a field where 180-degree turns may happen in all cases. No matter Armenians have experienced failure, like the Ukrainians experienced their success in 2004, Georgians – in 2003, Armenians still have not experienced success. Perhaps, it’s hard to believe that there might be a 180-degree turn, however, I do not rule out in all cases. Should such turn happen, it will be in the result of situational change of political parties, rather than in the result of participation of vast masses.”
Photo from Suren Saghatelyan’s Facebook page.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
