“Aravot” gradually restores its archive materials, both the publications that were only printed out and the articles that though were posted on our website, but technically do not fit in the contemporary “website” requirements. Hindsight, as always, is useful. This applies, in particular, to Anna Israelyan’s parliamentary reporting published in our newspaper in 1998, June 12 edition, which was called “This is a manifestation of economic nationalism and fascism.”
Such an assessment was given by liberal-minded Prime Minister Armen Darbinyan to those who were against selling of the Yerevan Brandy Factory (a reminder that French “Pernod Ricard” paid 30 million dollars for it).
Was the sale right or wrong, I do not know. I can only say for sure that this factory is a good faith taxpayer by the French management and works completely transparent in the “white ” field. There were many MPs speaking out against the sale then, but their “pro” or “cons” was not so important as the quality of arguments presented by the MPs. Communist Khoren Sargsyan, “When going abroad, we always take Armenian cognac with us, even instead of the family photos. Communist Leonid Hakobyan, “If the government is unable to maintain this factory, let them tell us and we would find a way out. And we will solve our problems with this “Pernod” so that they will never come to Armenia.” Vigen Khachatryan, “I am afraid you would sell the Opera House and the Matenadaran, too”. Vazgen Safaryan, “I would not be surprised that you would also sell the Lake Sevan. Armenian is known by its three things – cognac, footwear, and “canned foods.” Again, Khoren Trchunich, “After this, they would probably sell the churches and the cemeteries.” As you can see, the quality of the arguments and their level has not been increased 17 years later.
When it was talked about, let’s say, truly disputable laws on pension or turnover tax, few MPs knew what it was talked about. But since there is an option to play populism, the arguments were approximately as follows: “Well, aren’t these poor people pitiful?” “Well, do you want everyone to leave and go?” With these pathetic speeches, of course, you can earn the sympathy of “favorite radio listeners” (as Arshak Sadoyan would say). But herewith, it is not possible to correct the issue of taxes and the pensions.
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Although the manifestations of populism have not been changed, however, there is a difference. Nowadays, the number of those who listen to these speeches is reduced, firstly, because the population is reduced. But most importantly, those who are left in the country have begun to worry less about this populism.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
