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People Saw They Can Defy and Even Win
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Monday, 28 April 2014, 14:49
Gevorg, what is your impression from the meeting of Dem.am with the
prime minister. Many people think the approach of the prime minister
is `being against, he is for'.
Yeah, something like that, that opinion is very interesting. Well, we
listed our claims to the prime minister. The draft law did not comply
with what we had presented. Only one point was positive but it was a
very little step. Now we'll wait and see the bill they will submit to
the parliament on April 28. Our demand is to eliminate the mandatory
pillar. Let it be voluntary, not mandatory, it is not acceptable.
Was it the activity and determination of the society that made the
prime minister announce to suspend de facto the mandatory pillar? In
fact, it is the first time the prime minister meets with civil
activists during the rally. Was it an attempt to mitigate fury or was
it an honest concern?
The result matters. If we are satisfied with the result, we do not
care about the motivation of the prime minister's step. We stated in
the very beginning that we are not against personalities and we do not
have any political intentions. We are fighting against the phenomenon
and it is result oriented. If we achieve a result, it is not important
who else will benefit on the side. Already the culture of listening to
the citizens is emerging, that is highly important.
The society does not seem to have any expectation from the government
reshuffle. Will this change lead to a tangible success or is this
imitation?
We are not fighting against persons, the arrow of our struggle is
aimed at agencies. In other words, a prime minister has certain duties
which he must perform, and we demand him to do it. The president's
duty is to protect the rights of his citizens, and we demand that he
do it. It is not important who the president is because if the next
president also fails to fulfill his duties, we will challenge him.
What will your steps be in case not all your requirements are met? A
lot of civil activists, politicians and NGOs rely on this movement and
speak about the prospect of forming a political agenda by the
movement. Will there be such a thing?
Our team has been formed to deal with one specific issue. I cannot
talk about the future now because we have not resolved the problem set
before us. As soon as we resolve it, we will think on the future.
There are a lot of ideas but there is not a specific plan. Now the
only issue on the agenda is to fight against the mandatory funded
pension.
In other words, if this problem is resolved, the activists of Dem.am
will go home? Or will they continue to fight other similar phenomena?
Dem.am includes people who are involved in different initiatives. When
a person stands up for his rights, it becomes a characteristic
feature, and while people thought they could get used to it, now they
think that they may defy and even win.
What expectations do you have from parliament on April 28?
I can't tell. Everything depends on the bill that is going to be
submitted. And since the RPA presents the bill, they must vote for it.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/32352#sthash.btj5mcea.dpuf
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Monday, 28 April 2014, 14:49
Gevorg, what is your impression from the meeting of Dem.am with the
prime minister. Many people think the approach of the prime minister
is `being against, he is for'.
Yeah, something like that, that opinion is very interesting. Well, we
listed our claims to the prime minister. The draft law did not comply
with what we had presented. Only one point was positive but it was a
very little step. Now we'll wait and see the bill they will submit to
the parliament on April 28. Our demand is to eliminate the mandatory
pillar. Let it be voluntary, not mandatory, it is not acceptable.
Was it the activity and determination of the society that made the
prime minister announce to suspend de facto the mandatory pillar? In
fact, it is the first time the prime minister meets with civil
activists during the rally. Was it an attempt to mitigate fury or was
it an honest concern?
The result matters. If we are satisfied with the result, we do not
care about the motivation of the prime minister's step. We stated in
the very beginning that we are not against personalities and we do not
have any political intentions. We are fighting against the phenomenon
and it is result oriented. If we achieve a result, it is not important
who else will benefit on the side. Already the culture of listening to
the citizens is emerging, that is highly important.
The society does not seem to have any expectation from the government
reshuffle. Will this change lead to a tangible success or is this
imitation?
We are not fighting against persons, the arrow of our struggle is
aimed at agencies. In other words, a prime minister has certain duties
which he must perform, and we demand him to do it. The president's
duty is to protect the rights of his citizens, and we demand that he
do it. It is not important who the president is because if the next
president also fails to fulfill his duties, we will challenge him.
What will your steps be in case not all your requirements are met? A
lot of civil activists, politicians and NGOs rely on this movement and
speak about the prospect of forming a political agenda by the
movement. Will there be such a thing?
Our team has been formed to deal with one specific issue. I cannot
talk about the future now because we have not resolved the problem set
before us. As soon as we resolve it, we will think on the future.
There are a lot of ideas but there is not a specific plan. Now the
only issue on the agenda is to fight against the mandatory funded
pension.
In other words, if this problem is resolved, the activists of Dem.am
will go home? Or will they continue to fight other similar phenomena?
Dem.am includes people who are involved in different initiatives. When
a person stands up for his rights, it becomes a characteristic
feature, and while people thought they could get used to it, now they
think that they may defy and even win.
What expectations do you have from parliament on April 28?
I can't tell. Everything depends on the bill that is going to be
submitted. And since the RPA presents the bill, they must vote for it.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/32352#sthash.btj5mcea.dpuf