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  • There Is No Movement Now

    THERE IS NO MOVEMENT NOW
    Siranuysh Papyan

    Story from Lragir.am News:
    http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview24401.html
    Published: 13:50:34 - 01/12/2011

    Interview with Edgar Vardanyan, ACNIS Expert

    Is Levon Ter-Petrosyan~Rs recent statement that the
    Republican-Bargavach Hayastan Party can change the arrangement of
    political forces a way out of the crisis or just another cause for
    deepening crisis and frustration?

    First, it should be noted that Ter-Petrosyan did not rule our
    cooperation with the Bargavach Hayastan Party in case the BHP really
    wants to leave the coalition and promote free and fair elections in the
    country. It is obvious, however, that the Armenian National Congress
    is acting in the pre-election mode, even though the Congress states
    its goal to be systemic change, taking steps which are characteristic
    of parties rather than a democratic movement. The movement which could
    lead to change is not found in Armenia, and the opposition forces are
    trying to boost their influence under the current rules of the game,
    play on internecine conflicts, pressure the government.

    If we assume for a moment that the Bargavach Hayastan Party will agree,
    will it not lead to loss of the civil potential?

    If the opposition acts in accordance with the rules of the government,
    I think they will not succeed. Some opposition forces will certainly
    get into the parliament but the question is what it will bring for
    these forces and the public. The problems of the society will not
    be solved, though the opposition forces are not limited to the wish
    to enter the parliament. With the current regime through, it will
    hardly be possible to achieve equity, independence of the judiciary,
    human rights protection and even social and economic welfare. I don~Rt
    find the opposition able to change the rules of the game.

    In other words, there is a political crisis?

    And a very serious one. Now they talk more about internecine conflicts
    and crisis but there is a similar crisis in the opposition. They seem
    to have put up with this situation when the government sets the rules.

    I think the Congress is becoming less popular. People may ask the
    question how Levon Ter-Petrosyan will make sure that the BHP is
    committed to free elections. If a statement is enough for that, why
    shouldn~Rt he believe Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican PAtry which
    also state committed to free elections?

    I think the Congress is not self-confident about its ability to
    mobilize the public and reach its goal. So far nobody has succeeded in
    mobilization, although as soon as several hundreds of people take to
    the streets, the government will leave. But they did not succeed, so
    they decided to handle internecine conflicts though it will not work.

    How can confidence of the public be restored?

    I think there is not a civil force in Armenia yet which was formed
    bottom up and pursues systemic reforms.

    Political parties wish to come to power. Each of their actions pursues
    this goal. It hinders systemic changes, change of the rules of the
    game. The parties will not waste efforts if they know that other
    forces will come to power. Should the key problem of the public be
    the lack of a social and economic strategy, this problem could be
    solved by a force which would come to power with such a project in
    hand. But as long as the society considers its main problem to be the
    anti-democratic forces, the activities of parties cannot lead to the
    implementation of the main goal of government.

    Therefore, Armenia needs a civil movement, a movement the ultimate
    goal of which will not be power, which may consolidate all the forces
    to ensure free elections.

    Now there are such civil groups but they deal with problems in separate
    sectors, their goal is not to change the rules of the game.

    Perhaps, they do not believe in fast change of the system.

    What should a democratic movement look like?

    It must be a movement of carriers of democratic values who cooperate
    on a horizontal platform, it must be a movement of equals. It does
    not mean that there must be no leaders. But they must be elected
    and must be accountable to the movement. They must be capable of
    self-sacrifice, their place is the front line. And the leaders must
    understand that in case of failure they must be ready to leave instead
    of excusing themselves.

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