Pass of the week with commentary

January 13-20

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A:down
on the weekend
Q:president of the province, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
commander Serzh Sargsyanled byP:Ministry of Healthhasheld Armed
the discussion of the project of the seven-year plan for the modernization of the forces. It was emphasized that, account
taking into account the existing challenges, in 2018-2024 were predicted when developing the program
the possible options for the development of the situation, the ways of countering them,
necessary conditions have been created to manage available resources to the maximum
to implement effectively.K:doand:thatw:the substantive discussion of the presented project was held,
thataccording to Serzh Sargsyan,will enable
having a modern Armed Forces to keep the borders of the state intact.

… First
The question that arises when reading this information is the following. what is it anyway?
dictated the need for a seven-year plan to modernize the Armed Forces.
Let the question not sound strange, it is not that we are against this or that
system upgrade. On the contrary, we consider it welcome in that sense
the sincere concern and efforts of the authorities, if directed
to the implementation of visible reforms, rather than simple eye contact or
are cheap shows. If we are not mistaken, we have a national one
security concept, we also have a defense strategy and
other software related to system reforms. But what is the benefit? That
concepts are not properly applied in life, even their public ones
discussions were overlooked. For years, the army has not been released to the public
many exciting issues, related to, for example, the circumstances of the death of servicemen,
murders and suicides, corruption phenomena
with findings. Now, in a few months, the president will step down
Serzh Sargsyan, instead of strictly demanding the solution of the accumulated issues,
introduces a new program. And that too, “leap-like development” and, most importantly, seven years
in the form of a remote document. The president announced that last year
on October 24, during a meeting with the system officials. He, in particular,
said: “We must have one of the most modernized armies in the world.
In other words, we must have a continuously improving state, thanks to which also
the army is being modernized. It is possible andwe
together with you, together with our whole society, we will make it a reality
purpose”he said. That’s how we reached the “goal”, the current president, it turns out
has the intention to make reality “together with the society” for another 7 years
make… well, the rest is irrelevant. Opinions are not random
the fact that the motley faces of the RPA have tirelessly yoked themselves to Serzh Sargsyan, scheduled for April
on the occasion of the end of his tenure, to strengthen him in a new position in the government
imperative.

Q:January
On the 15th, the third session of the 6th convocation parliament started in the National Assembly
the first four-day session. The agenda included 26 issues, including RA criminal issues
on amendments and additions to the Code, of the Constitutional Court
about, additions to the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Police” and
projects about making changes. Chairman of the National Assembly at the beginning of the session
Ara Babloyan announced that parliamentary hearings will be held on January 23
will carry out the agenda of mitigating price increases and their consequences.

… In fact, the problem of price increases remains
one of the key topics of the past week. As is already known, Harkay
As a result of the changes in the code, prices have increased by about 40 drams since the beginning of the year
gasoline and gas for cars, and widely in agriculture
the price of used diesel fuel increased from 390 to 440 drams. In addition, 150
those earning a salary of more than a thousand drams, about 2 percent less than this month
will be paid due to the increase in income tax rates. On the subject of inflation
in the meeting of January 10, to which the Government’s economic representatives were invited
representatives of the bloc, President Serzh Sargsyan announced. “If indeed some
price increases of products have objective reasons, then we should think about
how to mitigate those consequences.” The President instructed the Government to propose
options for mitigating the effects of inflation for those socially important goods,
which have increased in price as a result of tax or other legislative changes.
On January 15, the first protest action against price increases was undertaken in Yerevan
Drivers of several route lines of Malatia-Sebastia administrative district, announcing
that they will not stop the strike until the gas filling problem is solved
not be given. According to drivers, price increases are illegal due to monopoly
due to the existence of the economy. It was aimed at mitigating the effects of inflation
“Tsarukyan” alliance, parliament, on changing income tax rates
presented the project, which, however, the January 15 plenary session of the National Assembly
the proposal to include in the agenda was rejected by the vote of the RPA faction. And?
“Yelk”, the other parliamentary opposition force, called for a protest on January 20
march against price hikes. “If tens of thousands of RA citizens are our demand
protect, I can guarantee that changes in the Tax Code
will take place”, he announced during the press conference held on the eve of the march
Nikol Pashinyan, head of the “Yelk” faction. They are skeptical on social networks
evaluating the “Exit” action, reminding that Pashinyan once called the marches meaningless
walk in Yerevan. According to the latter, he never “defeats” people
take it.” Time will tell what is what. In any case, it is obvious that
the “dough” of price increases will still draw a lot of water.

Q:After the ceremony of awarding the Order of the Fatherland to Hovhannes Chekijian, who was awarded the title of national hero of Estonia, on January 16, Serzh Sargsyan met with a group of intellectuals who participated in the ceremony at a tea table at the President’s residence. During the conversation, which was related to the security and future of Armenia, the role and mission of intellectuals in the life of the country, as well as the issues of education and culture, the President of Armenia presented his ideas about the 4th President at the request of the participants of the meeting. In the face of the next president, Serzh Sargsyan sees “an individual who has a long history and great recognition and the country inside and outside, can adequately represent Armenia abroad.” According to him, the future president “must know foreign languages, have wide connections in the Diaspora and Armenia, enjoy a good reputation and, most importantly, be an impartial person who has never been involved in politics and has never been a member of a party.”

… Who was the current president referring to in the future?
in the position of president, it became known two days later. A meeting of intellectuals
following the long-thin description of the president, the listed criteria,
it seems that Eduard Nalbandyan’s “ears” could be seen. Of course, the future president
in the list of candidates, another name – Mets – was circulating in parallel
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Britain Armen
Sargsyan. It was possible that the current president was referring to him. And he tooof the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
was nominated by that party at the January 18 meeting of the executive body.It is clear which of the two diplomats Serge preferred
Sargsyan, the average citizen of Armenia would hardly be better off than that
life. Since the first of them is considered “the man of Russia” and
accordingly, he would serve his interests, and Armen Sarkissian would serve the interests of the West.
therefore, we, the ordinary Armenians, had to rely on them in any case
To the mercy of God. On the other hand, it was logical that the unresolved problem of Artsakh
the number one symbol of the state having such that after the impending April
will be the president of RA, be someone seasoned and experienced in diplomacy. That
from the point of view of Armen Sargsyan, who does not lack such experience, it seems suitable
is a candidate for the presidential throne. But the concern here is another issue. The constitution has been changed and the government system is, in fact, more democratic
made by Serzh Sargsyan behind the smokescreen of “toothless” intellectuals, in fact
single-handedly “appointed” the future president. No matter how much they try to prove otherwise
in the republican camp, all the same, the people remained “out of the game”.
It was Serzh Sargsyan personally, who no longer hides his ambitions for the position of prime minister
the appointer, and now he can easily see himself both in the position of prime minister and
in the role of president. As they say, two in one.

Gevorg Lalayan commented