It is natural that whatever the mainstream of the Armenian public approves of I accept with doubts and the opposite. For example, after taking on the power, the revolutionary rhetoric does not seem proper to me, but the mainstream likes it – formerly accumulated negative energy has not still gone. And here the Government’s completely correct step, in my opinion – to pass to mandatory funded pension system is disapproved of a lot of people, perhaps. But the positive is more important to me than the negative – Bolshevik speeches will vanish, and the dignified pension will remain for today’s young people when they retire.
When Tigran Sargsyan’s Government proposed the funded pension system, I was for, understanding of course, that at that time being for any program suggested by the Government was not “trendy”. However, besides expressing my personal opinion in this column, my profession gives me the opportunity to get acquainted with different people and represent their viewpoint. And at that time – 4 years ago, I was interviewing the young people who were protesting against that program, including Mane Tandilyan and Gevorg Gorgisyan. They expressed opinions I did not agree with, but with their essence and mindset they were the representatives of, as they said, “new Armenia”. Generally, it seems to me that this revolution has been carried out by the self-sufficient young people with independent thinking and it is not important in which camp they are and what positions they hold. I am glad that Mane and Gevorg stayed loyal to their principles.
…In the Government session Artsvik Minasyan, the Minister of Economic Development and Investments opposed to the mandatory funded pension system as well, and we can speak about the difference of perceptions again. If Artsvik Minasyan opposed to the “boss’s” opinion in one of the Government sessions back then, the response of the majority of the people would be: “Artsvik jan, you spoke out of the people’s interests and the dictator PM did not allow you to continue and have your opinion.” Now the opinion that prevails is the opposite, “Oh you, adaptive Federationist, you want to be against by being for, don’t you? You will not be allowed to play on 2 tunes any longer!” Here is what it means governments enjoying and lacking to enjoy the people’s trust. Of course, it would be correct for Artsvik Minasyan to resign after opposing, as Mane Tandilyan did.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
