TRUTH AROUSES DOUBT WHEN FEW KNOW IT

Lragir.am
13 July 06

Almost every time when the minister of defense is asked about his
political plans, he gets surprised why the mass media consider
it so important. Of course, journalists do not explain why. It is
clear that the political plans of a person who occupies several high
offices in the spheres of national security, economy, sport, culture
and science willy-nilly become important, independent from who this
person is. Presently, the society has reason to be more attentive to
Serge Sargsyan’s steps. The point is that formerly his steps were
characterized by a highly logical sequence, whereas now his steps
are highly controversial.

The defense minister announced July 12 that there is no arrangement on
selling the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Russia. Serge Sargsyan did
it calmly, as if another Serge Sargsyan had told news reporters in
the corridor of the Constitutional Court that there are "interesting
developments" in the negotiations with Russia over the pipeline,
and wished patience to learn about them. Now the minister of defense
announces that there is no arrangement on this at present. He also
said he would "ask" the minister of energy and the chief executive
of Armrusgasard to provide necessary information to the public,
filling in the gap in information on the pipeline.

What a quick response! And surprisingly it follows the Iranian visit
of the president of Armenia, the purpose of which was said to be the
gas pipeline. There is no need to repeat that Iran does not approve its
sale to Russia. The Iranian officials have announced about this for a
great number of times. Not directly, of course, but rather clearly. And
after all this Serge Sargsyan announces that there is no arrangement on
sale, because "there is no pipeline yet." There was no pipeline either
when the minister promised interesting developments. There may have
been developments but not that interesting if Serge Sargsyan suddenly
recalled the absence of a pipeline, as well as that the Ministry
of Energy and Armrusgasard, in other words, the subjects of the
sphere, should give information about the pipeline. It is interesting,
however, why these subjects did not provide the important information,
waiting until Serge Sargsyan would make a hint. If Serge Sargsyan were
president or prime minister, it would be possible to understand, but he
is merely a minister, let alone of defense, or especially of defense.

On the other hand, these agencies might also need information
on what is going on in their sphere, and finally, is the pipeline
being sold to the Russians or not? Therefore, independent from Serge
Sargsyan’s remark, the Ministry of Energy and Armrusgasard could not
give information to the public for the simple reason that they have
no information. It is also possible that very few of the Armenian
high officials have this information. And this makes doubt every
statement, because if several people know the truth, they may come
to an arrangement on hiding it.

Of course, nobody would be eager to assume responsibility for
problems, which is definitely natural. But it is equally natural
that a person who assumes responsibility at a favorable moment does
not avoid responsibility in "bad weather". Otherwise, natural logic
is violated. It would not be so bad if only logic were damaged.
Due to this national security is damaged too.

JAMES HAKOBYAN