“The Armenian man prefers historical homeland to real homeland. He prefers because historical homeland does not need care. This country does not demand dues, sweat and does not need protection. And the allure of this homeland is that living there is not necessarily. And for centuries, we make our homeland a historic homeland part by part and are connected with collective, not binding and dearest love. The Armenian man ranks the collective love to null and void higher than the collective existence.” Vano Siradeghyan
We marked the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The splendid military parade in Republic Square was indeed impressive, while the whimpers of citizens with the inconveniences related to the preparatory work and rehearsals in the capital were in vain.
In any civilized country in the world, even if the celebration rehearsals last at least one-two months with traffic limitations, the citizens of this country would surely find something positive in it, and would be proud of celebrating this important event for their state with luxury. But in our country, the non-motivated pathos and meaningless speeches in the cases where there is absolutely no need of it, while when there is a real opportunity, which we should really be proud of, we are always “searching for a hair in the egg.”
A Republican MP Mkrtich Minasyan, considering Karen Karapetyan’s shifting from “Gazprom” to Armenia justified, expressed hope that “Armenia will become something like Singapore.” This became a reason for the subject of making Armenia a Singapore be discussed in social networks and mass media for several days. One ridiculed the idea, another was correcting that Armenia should simply be made Armenia …
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The subject of Singapore in RPA most likely has appeared not accidentally. Years ago, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili used to repeat the idea that he will make Georgia a Singapore.
In 2010-2011, Saakashvili promised that Georgia will become a new Singapore in 3-5 years, a new Hong Kong, and a new center for tourism and regional economic. He used to emphasize that it is the worst scenario for Russia. He argued confidently that Georgia should attract the financial capital “escaping” from Russia, Tbilisi should attract this capital to its side as it has eradicated corruption in Georgia. He was mentioning that Georgia’s economic model should be like the Singapore model, he was substantiating that Tbilisi must more profitably use its geographic position as it is done by Singapore. Saakashvili was successful for he had a vision, and more importantly, he believed that his vision is feasible and fulfilled it.
Today, the former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is the governor of Odessa, two-three weeks ago, he delivered a speech in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. With a temperament typical for him, he made an enthusiastic and passionate speech, with fanaticism he still believes in the possibility of the development of Ukraine and Odessa, he was introducing his program of restoring Georgia’s small, “dead”, muddy and unpaved roads of the cities making sights for tourist attraction, how to attract investors to result in building hundreds of new hotels, apartment building and roads in Georgia.
The example of Saakashvili to develop the neighboring Georgia is more than obvious. No need to go far and reach Singapore, Switzerland or Canada. The neighboring Georgia is in front of the eyes of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Today, large-scale constructions are underway in Georgian cities, multi-storey apartment buildings and hotels are being built and investments are being made despite the change in the government and Saakashvili’s leaving the country. There are also difficulties in this country but there is a breath of development in the air, the realization of a statehood and sovereignty is sitting in the brain of every ordinary citizen.
It was not much time for the state appearing in the war and blockade imposed on it for 25 years to make our country a paradise, but it was also not few for our citizens to feel the vitality of our country. But we do not have this so far as we do not have the vision. An independent judiciary, a citizen protected by rights, unforged elections, competitive economy, domestic and foreign investments, in other words, first moves to grant Armenia a reputation of a reliable country. Instead of talking about all these for months and years, just a determined decision is needed, and the vision of Armenia’s development will arise. It is true to say, “Armenia is a homeland to love the details.” You should not be offended of the homeland and abandon, you must return to homeland not for dying out but for living. You must irreconcilably fight to protect your homeland and for every piece detached from its sovereignty. It is just necessary to have a vision for the development of the Homeland and a fanatical belief that its fulfillment is possible.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
“Aravot”
22.09.2016
