IN POLITICS ONE MUST BE AS PATIENT AS A FISHERMAN
Kima Yeghiazaryan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 15, 2008
Armenia
Interview with the director of the independent sociological center
"Sociometer" Aharon Adibekyan.
"Mr. Adibekyan according to the observations of certain analysts, both
the former and the current quadrilateral coalition has, somewhat,
stepped aside from the political domain, leaving the Leader of
the country and the ruling authorities, all alone, to confront the
opposition, particularly the movement headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Don’t you think that the coalition must refuse their passive posture
and become more active and initiators?"
"If we observe the actions of the forces surrounding Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, we will easily see that they are directed against the
President and the ruling government and not the coalition members. They
took some steps against the Leader of "Orinats Yerkir" party as well.
They didn’t even hide their hatred towards him, but it had nothing
to do with the principal goal of the movement headed by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. Thus, the ruling power is their main target.
Secondly: the coalition members don’t possess serious resources for
confrontation. What should they do? Today, our people’s welfare,
establishing law and order, the settlement of Karabakh issue, and
the review of our foreign policy are priorities for the state.
It is the function of the President and the Prime Minister to solve
all the before mentioned issues. And it is quite natural that the
aggressive actions of the opposition are directed against them. And
it is their task to give the answers to all the questions. Even if
the other three coalition members become more active, deliver active
speeches, it will not have any influence, especially because the wave
of the revolution is evidently becoming weaker.
Usually similar waves are followed by gradual tranquility, as it
was in 1996, 1998, and 2003. If you remember in 2003 our opposition
announced that a very heated autumn is in store for us, or a heated
winter and spring. But the wave became weaker and weaker, because
our opposition is not homogeneous.
Even at present the forces involved in the movement headed by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan are quite different. And if some people think that they
express the moods of the overwhelming majority of our people they are
definitely in the wrong. This movement can’t be considered a united
protest. Some people participate in the rallies hoping to get answers
to their questions or see changes. Some people have gathered around the
leader of the movement, hoping to get positions, in case they win. Some
of them are in the role of observers; some are the representatives
of special services, trying to control the anti-state actions.
So, if the leadership of the movement makes efforts to start
their street democracy over again, you will see that the number
of the participants has significantly reduced, because those who
participated in the demonstrations as observers and those who had
certain expectations won’t be there.
After all everyone understands that there will be no wave of revolution
any more. It is a regular process of massive psychology. Those who
hoped for victory are disappointed, seeing that they didn’t achieve
anything after suffering losses. At present they won’t pin any hopes
upon the newly established Armenian National Congress."
"Do you think the congress can’t continue the struggle?"
"I don’t think, because if you add zero to zero the result will be
zero. Our opposition has never possessed enough resources to become
a serious political power. Besides that their goals always surpass
their opportunities. And when you don’t manage to fulfill your goals,
your opportunities become lesser and lesser.
That is why; in politics one should be as patient as a fisherman. But
our people play checkers and they want to record immediate
results. They want to come to power as soon as possible. But it is
impossible because changing government is a long-lasting process,
with preparation, active and final stages."
"During one of your discussions recently you mentioned that the
dialogue is a fiction. Do you exclude the possibility of a dialogue
between Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the authorities?"
"It is really impossible because there is one presidential chair. And
the struggle is only for this chair. Consequently there is no topic
for discussion. The situation will change if Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and his team members introduce a list of proposals: for example
settlement of the issues regarding poverty, or if they lend a hand
to the authorities for the solution of these and many other issues.
Thus the opposition must try to have an investment in the country’s
development. But what they want, in our reality, is power, nothing
more. But they forget that once they used to possess this power but
they didn’t do anything good. If they couldn’t do it once, is it a
school, for them to pass a re-examination?"
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress