It’s a proven fact that when we meet with someone and then tell about that meeting, we present what we have said much longer and in detail rather than what our interlocutor has said. This is also reflected in the official press releases. If a meeting is held between X and Y officials of the two countries, then the press’s office of the X official confers 4 paragraphs to the words of his boss, which “noted”, “addressed” and “emphasized”, but refers to the words of the Y official in one word. The details of the meetings of the officials and residents are presented more “summed up”. This-and-this “was introduced to the socio-economic situation of the region (community)” and then “emphasized” and “addressed.” Translated, it means that the residents (if, of course, they were allowed to communicate with the official) “opened the bag of complaints” but it is not said about what specifically they were complaining, and then, the official’s speech about “what programs they have”, they are presented in great detail. Now, our government and opposition representatives are intensively meeting with the representatives of European structures.
Then, they tell the media what they have said to the Europeans and in the end, they add in “one paragraph” that the Europeans mostly agreed with them. It turns out that our officials, to put it mildly, have a diametrically opposite impression on the Europeans’ posture and interpret the words of their interlocutors as it is suitable for them. For example, according to the government officials, the Europeans are strongly against publishing the list of voters, while the impression of the opposition members is that the Europeans are quite favorable about the publication of the same lists.
It seems that it is not a big deal, let us ask the Europeans and become aware of their posture. But the Europeans are giving such “slippery” and blurry explanations that indeed it is not possible to understand what they are for and against.
The opinion of European experts, of course, is very important, it is worth listening to and benefit from their advice as much as possible. It would also be good to present these talks as accurately as possible. But the Europeans themselves are saying that it is just a piece of advice, therefore, I think we should not use it as a bargaining chip in the domestic political fight. These people did not “feel uneasy” if we do not give an ear to their advice and, nonetheless, hold the elections for the first time in 22 years, and the majority of citizens of Armenia will believe the results of these elections.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
