What does the current prime minister; trying to stop the funded pension, meeting with activists, taking part in the “Quartet” session, his opponents are saying, “This is a PR campaign.” Well, if that is the approach, then any move: an interview, public speaking, business dinner and so on by any politician, all of that can be called a “PR campaign”, in other words, an action, which is focused on raising the rating of given figure. What matters is the result. In other words, in this case, the law on funded pension not to act against the will of its beneficiaries.
In the meantime, ministerial appointments were made, which no way can be called a “PR campaign”. In this respect, the most talked is the appointment of Narek Sargsyan as Minister of Urban Development. The negative sentiment of older generation architects towards this figure can be possibly explained by professional jealousy, however, Narek Sargsyan’s “not kind reputation” is extended beyond the professional circles, and it will be difficult for the newly appointed Minister to work in the presence of negative public background. I also have reservations about any overly radical, revolutionary ideas in all fields, including architecture.
Anyway, it seems to me that reappointment of a number of ministers were more “anti-PR”. I mean, in particular, the Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan. I am sure that neither the current president and the prime minister, nor their predecessors give serious consideration for this position and the industry, and, therefore, at large, it is all the same for them who the minister of culture will be. This emerged from “residual principle” coming from the Soviet era. This approach was wrong then and thrice wrong as of today, in the independent Armenia.
The late wonderful musician Konstantin Orbelyan was living in the United States since 1992. I do not know whether any minister of Culture of Armenia had initiated any steps for him to return to his homeland. Even if such efforts were made, obviously, they were not enough. Vainly all our authorities believe that the culture is a quaternary issue. If the first magnitude stars represent our country, if their partners come to Armenia from all over the world, and conduct events right here, its political and even economic effect will be much higher. Culture is a serious state affair.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
