ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN TO UNDERTAKE SOON SIGNING OF SOCIAL CONCORD
AGREEMENT AIMED AT FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS TO LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 1, the newspaper “New Time”
published an article entitled “Choice of Future or in the Name of
Social Concord” by the RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian. Underlining
the importance of the upcoming elections to the local self-government
bodies in terms of establisment of a democratic Armenia, the NA
Speaker expressed a wish to undertake “an initiative to sign a unique
agreement of social concord aimed at holding free, fair and
transparent elections, which may become an opportunity of social
agreement in order to hold the upcoming elections under conditions of
truly fair competition.” He is confident that his initiative will come
under criticism and be objected and denied by those for whom
“Armenia’s real democratization process and political tolerance are of
no value.” At the same time he is sure that the political and social
organizations, as well as the mass media and citizens who realize the
necessity of social concord will prevail. Noting that “international,
speaking mildly, unfavorable assessments” have been made about all the
elections held in Armenia since 1995, A. Baghdasarian expressed
conviction that “although with some delay, but the time has come to
finalize an important line.” In A. Baghdasarian’s opinion, the
creation of a new system of values that presupposes free elections
requires the manifestation of idealism and courage – “idealism because
the fair election is like a political bluff for many, and courage
because it is necessary for making a breakthrough into tomorrow.”
Otherwise, according to A. Baghdasarian, the domestic political hatred
will continue strengthening its positions in Armenia, “the process of
corrupting and discrediting everyone and everything” will further
develop, while the hope in the country’s future and progress will
faint away with all the inevitable consequences.