An interesting development, with implications for Armenian politics: Although there is usually little surprise and even less suspense in Armenia’s domestic politics, one recent development may signal that someone new may being groomed for the top job, as a possible presidential contender: Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.
Although this is not necessarily an endorsement, it is fair to say that the Defense Minister’s press conference today was impressive, not only for his performance but for the contrast it shows with the other “leaders” and In a country where the current president fails to embrace his role as leader, is afraid of press conferences, if not afraid of his own population, this was new. Ohanyan spoke in a live, televised press conference, without a prepared “speech” and where the questions were not screened or selected in advance. And he evoked an atmosphere of calm, measured and reassuring response to a country gripped by grief, challenged by crisis, and a population under assault and attack, and increasingly desperate for change.
The same impressive, command performance was also evident last August, where Ohanyan assumed the reassuring role as both the Defense Minister and, surprisingly effective, also as the unofficial Armenian Foreign Minister, displaying steady leadership in an earlier time of crisis- the shootdown of an Armenian military helicopter by Azerbaijani forces.
This only leads me to consider revising my earlier characterization of current President Serzh Sarkisian: perhaps he is no longer the “last of the Mohicans,” no longer the last of a specific political elite that came from Karabakh and that came to power because of Karabakh.
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Yet, as a possible new contender for president, being different does not make one a democrat. Nor does being a better, more polished public speaker necessarily make a better, more prudent public leader. And public relations and maturity in command may not be enough to save the damage already done to Armenia.
Nevertheless, it does a refreshing new element of surprise, and even suspense, in Armenia politics.
Richard Giragosian
Director