Statehood and Culture
Alvard Petrosian
Armenian National Assembly member, writer
Dear readers,
Between June 8 and 14, 2005, you had an opportunity to address your
questions on the Yerkir’s website to ALVARD PETROSIAN, Armenian
National Assembly member, writer.
Below are the answers to your questions. See the full version of the
interview in Armenian.
Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
editor-in-chief of “Yerkir” Weekly.
Eric – I want to know your opinion about the crowed of bureaucrats
swinging from one party to another just to keep their places in the
Government. Sometimes one gets sick seeing the same faces during
decades ruining the country and still fighting to penetrate into next
dominating political force to secure a place in the
Government. Usually those are people with poor education, no
intelligence whatsoever, and trying to abuse and corrupt the
system. Flashing from the Communist party to Armenian National
Movement and now to some of the parties within the coalition, those
people look for corruption and abuse of the system only. Who knows
where they will end up next. Might be in Dashnaktsutsyun party? What
is the way to get rid of those people services once and forever to let
the knowledgeable and more skilled new generation to come to upfront?
Alvard Petrosian – Eric, who has asked me this question, knows well
that I am neither a chameleon nor mimicry. I am quite stable in my
principles and ideas, and thus my opinion about such people is very
negative. I believe that the worst things in this country are
committed by this type of people, these villains’ conformism gives
birth to all the worst. I consider Ionesko to one of the greatest
writers in the world who has said that such people suffer from rhino
disease. Speaking to the Express newspaper, he brings some examples of
such people and as the best example, he mentions his father. His
father was a mayor of a small Romanian town under the fascist regime,
and when the communists came to power, they realized that his father
was the most suitable person. This is the classic formulation of
Eric’s question: to conform, change colors for a character that is a
political reptile. We have seen many such examples in the past
years. It is they who destroy everything — ethics, system. They stand
in the way of forming civil awareness. Not everybody has been brought
up properly to know what is wrong, and when someone sees that an
individual has been in the office under Communists, Armenian National
Movement (HHSh) and the present regime, he or she thinks “I can live
like them” and they think of honest people to be fools. It is
impossible for a good political party to emerge in such environment,
and this is why political parties in our society have been
discredited.
Eric – The absurd of the policy of the Assets against the Debt to
Russia was obvious from the very beginning. Only people far from the
economic analysis and strategy would believe that Russian Government
is going to make millions of investments in the Armenian companies
handed over to them. The result is now more obvious that people far
from any economics should not jump into conclusions and make fool of
themselves making public announcements in mass media how the economy
of Armenia will develop under the strategic interest of Russia. What
do you think how the misstep by the people who made this groundless
and grossly mistaken decision should be fixed? Thanks
Alvard Petrosian – Dear friend, I consider myself a person who do not
speak of things they do not know. I know about the question you are
asking only to an extent any healthy patriot does. What happened was
not the evidence of our state’s strength and I think there was some
rush in making that decision. But as they say, “the hope dies the
last,” let’s wait and hope we would get out of this trap and we may
realize that the trade should not be based on love but on interest.
Kevork Kalayjian – How would you vote on the issue of dual citizenship
and why?
Alvard Petrosian – There are several questions regarding the dual
citizenship. I will vote for the dual citizenship by all means, and so
will my faction. But this is not a simple issue. An Armenian should
have a passport of his or her homeland. But homeland and state are
different things. A state, and especially this state, has many things
to watch out for. I believe that the realizing of these problems has
delayed this issue. But I think that anyone living in Armenia wants
this issue to be settled. People, who resist it, do so because of
these problems. At least, I wish that were the case. We use the
Diaspora factor whenever needed or not. We say Georgia has the sea,
Azerbaijan has the oil, and we have the Diaspora; but the sea and the
oil have not God’s living creatures. Our assets are bigger but also
more complicated. Every individual is a whole world, a whole
universe. It is not a Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline to be directed
the way we wish. They are citizens of various countries, and we must
help each other to unite Armenians in their countries to direct their
visions toward the homeland. This requires a lot of efforts. We should
not forget the national security issues and besides, there is the
objective to not break down the Diaspora. I believe that when the
repatriation of 1947 was organized, it was also Stalin’s policy to
deprive us from the Diaspora. They were brought to Armenia, and then
many of them were sent to Siberia. We cannot have such goal now, but
we also do not want the Diaspora to be perceived as a pocket. We want
the Diaspora’s talents, their political will, and, yes, the
investments, and we want them to direct their businesses to Armenia. I
don’t want us say ‘American Armenian writer William Saroyan, or French
Armenian singer Charles Aznavour,’ I want to say only ‘Armenian.’ We
have all these ambitions as well, and I am an optimist, I believe we
would overcome these problems.
Kevork Kalayjian – There are many different secondary schools in
Armenia, with Russian, English, and French orientation. Are there
similar schools with: Turkish Language Focus Western Armenian Focus,
and Classical Armenian Focus? Thank you
Alvard Petrosian – Yes, schools with Armenian (and Western Armenian)
orientations are well due in Armenia. As for Turkish, I believe we
should establish an academy; otherwise, the coming generation would be
fighting against windmills like Don Quixote. Or maybe it has no
demands or memory? If we have schools with Armenian orientation, we
would realize we need such with Turkish orientation, too.
Armen – Dear Ms. Petrosyan, It is evident that the current generation
of state leaders and politicians do not view social and economic
changes as a policy priority for the country. It is also evident that
the processes of economic development could be realized much faster
than they are being implemented now. This has resulted in a enormous
gap in income distribution in Armenia. Do you think the people should
wait, leave Armenia or take the matter into their own hands? Thank
you.
Alvard Petrosian – I believe everybody realizes that social and
economic changes should be a priority but the system to implement them
has not been yet worked out. Let us hope that the apprehension — the
diagnosis — is the halfway to treating the disease. The social
polarization has reached an unacceptable size and is destroying
classical perceptions of ethics, belief and hope of our
nation. Leaving the country is not the solution; it is a tragedy for
both those leaving and the country. Who should we leave this country
to? We are the masters of this land. A mansion or a car is not the
land. We have to change the situation through our awareness and the
will. If we recall the elections, we will see that the awareness is
not big enough. We have what we have.
Nareck – Asking how free is Armenian press or does the real freedom of
the press exist in Armenia is in my humble opinion useless, the press
isn’t free neither Armenia nor neighbouring countries. First and
foremost, the society must embrace the core moral values of the
Enlightenment and democracy which is a gradual process. For Armenia –
a country that has been scrambling for freedom since its creation – it
is particularly difficult in comparison with some eastern European
countries that gained autonomy after the Soviet Union collapsed. As
regards the opposition I must say they will do nothing but follow the
example of Georgia, attempting to forge a close friendship with Bush
for their own sake. To note, Georgian parliament prospers getting
their monthly salary from Bush administration, quite the contrary,
ordinary Georgians eke out an existence. As I scrutinize the current
situation in Armenia and its neighbouring countries, I come to a
conclusion that Armenia is currently the best place among those
countries in terms of freedom, democracy and liberty. In Georgia for
instance the government claims to be democratic but unfortunately
Georgian people don’t think so. In Azerbaijan demonstrators can be
jailed for an unofficial demo no matter how loudly Americans call
Aliev to democratize the country. I hope Armenia continue its
development towards democracy and freedom and one day match European
and American standards. Yours Sincerely, Nareck from Germany
Alvard Petrosian – Europe or America. I want us create standards
according to our national character. For thousands of years we have
traveled through history and our national pride should prevent us from
copycatting like zombies everything we are currently offered as
Western standards. Globalization scares me. We are not a big nation
but are not small either. We cannot resist like Russians, Japanese or
Chinese because due to the numbers. I believe we should preserve our
pure roots. As for Georgians, God save them. For 70 years, the crater
of the USSR deceived us with the Communism ghost, now let us not be
deceived by the democratization ghost. Let’s not be deceived by the
ghost. By the way, my son’s name is also Narek.
Rafael Oganesyan – Since the collapse of the USSR, the flow of
western-style media and culture has dominated and influenced the
Armenian youth. Do you see this as a threat to the preservation of the
Armenian Culture?
Alvard Petrosian – It is a threat as long as we are badly educated and
have lost our moral values. When educated, we are not vulnerable. This
does not mean we have to separate us from the outside world with a
Chinese wall. There is light there too and we have always understood
that light through our culture and were not blinded, in fact, we have
been enlightened.
Rafael Oganesyan – Mrs. Petrosian, With more and more Armenians
leaving their homeland, how can Armenia preserve its culture within
foreign lands and communities?
Alvard Petrosian – With homeland, by homeland, in homeland.
Sarkes Senanian – As an Armenian helping funds chairman ,are you
thinking to help Armenians who are from Iraq which are living now in
Armenia
Alvard Petrosian – I am a representative of the Armenian Relief
Society and we have already helped Iraq Armenians in Iraq. We have
reached an agreement with Migration and Refugee Department Head
Yeganian to also implement a project for the Iraqi Armenians who have
moved to Armenia.
Nora Parseghian – What are the latest activities and projects of The
Armenian Relief Society in Armenia? 2.In what category do you put the
Armenian women? How do you value her situation? Are her rights being
kept, is she being abused by all means? Thank you
Alvard Petrosian – In the framework of the Genocide commemoration
programs, we opened an excellent maternity hospital in Akhurian on
April 26. A while ago, Shirak governor had asked us to open such
hospital. Two days before the opening — on April 24 — a boy was born
and we named him Vrezh. Now, less than two months after its opening,
the 120th child was born. We are all happy, and I think you are happy
too.
Vartan P. – I think that under the soviet union Armenian culture
underwent a Renaissance. Since indepedence, I have seen the worst of
people. Western-style girls who open up their asses is not armenian
culture. Thievery is not Armenian culture. I have seen a lot of down
sides to Armenian culture after indepdence. What would you say is the
upside? What is the actual situation about Armenian culture today? I
think a while back there was a proposition to introduce russian as a
second official language, that is also not Armenian culture. Thank you
Alvard Petrosian – It is true, we suffered losses (physical and
otherwise) during the 70 years, but we also accumulated immense
cultural wealth. Today, we are in cultural downsize, but everything
will be back on track. Such periods happen in the cultural history. I
believe in our talented heritage.
Eric – Ms. Petrosyan, What do you think of current nominations for the
Government high ranking jobs in Armenia. People with no knowledge and
skills are nominated to the positions only because of belonging to
this or that political party. What makes it more ridiculous is that
people desire to get positions in the current Government much higher
than their intellect can afford them to work for. As a result-
illiteracy, corruption, regress. The main goal here is how much money
one can make at the post before being fired or (which is worse) being
moved up to the higher positions. Is not that obvious that Armenia
with the current intellectual level of the Government cannot make any
progress?
Alvard Petrosian – That is the main source of our troubles. The wise
policy of nominations for offices would have solved many problems. It
will when we begin to realize that the human intellect is most
valuable asset and when we begin to appreciate people no matter what
party they are members of. That day will come.
See the full version of the interview in Armenian.