BUSINESSMEN-IN-LAW
By James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
18 July 06

The defense minister had just uttered his speech of encouragement
to businessmen when the reply of Dashnaktsutiun followed right
away. If on July 14 Serge Sargsyan conveyed to big businessmen
relying on him that what they did was not bad, on the next day the ARF
(Dashnaktsutiun) rounded up small and medium-sized business owners and
related them to Dashnaktsutiun without waiting until they would rely
on Dashnaktsutiun. On July 15 the ARF leaders set up an organization
named Ajas, including small and medium-sized businesses.

On the eve, during and after political events in Armenia the economic
resource has always been one of the main factors. This is typical of
the entire world. But there is an essential difference. In the world
or in so-called established countries the economic resource acts as
a participant and underlies the process. In Armenia it is different.

For instance, in a normal country the defense minister would rely
on the backing of businessmen rather than the businessmen would rely
on the defense minister. A defense minister has nothing to give them
except a notice. So, if he encourages their reliance on him, it means
he is going to justify their expectations by abusing his powers. In
fact, the defense minister gives this hope for the future, that he
would become a president and in the new post he would have to deal
with businessmen and would justify their hopes.

What guarantees does Serge Sargsyan have that he will become president
if he hints to big business owners that it is not bad to rely on
him? No guarantees are seen. A president is usually elected.

So, either Serge Sargsyan already knows the outcome of the election
or he misleads the businessmen for his personal aims. Every speech
calling business for reliance on one person or another rather than
the law is a misleading statement, independent from who this person
or political force is.

Frankly speaking, it is not so important whether the small
and medium-sized business owners had invited the leaders of
Dashnaktsutiun to the conference of the organization Ajas, or the
leaders had organized this conference, not openly, of course. It
is interesting why the entrepreneurs had invited only the leaders
of Dashnaktsutiun. Why didn’t they invite other political forces as
well? And most importantly, why did they invite representatives of
a political force at all?

Why does the business community of Armenia, small or big, tend to
rely on one figure or another, on one political force or another,
failing to realize their own force? Even the fact that political
forces and figures try their best to get hold of business did not make
them realize the force they represent. Whereas, having such force but
relying on some people is capitulation in one’s homeland. Force is not
skinheads or gangs of criminals, defending businessmen God knows from
what. Especially that they defend authorities rather than businessmen,
turning a businessman into a foe of the public. And the reason is
that for years on the same businessmen relied on persons rather than
the public. When they were promised bright future, avoiding taxes,
businessmen failed to realize that their future would be marred. They
did not realize that the government encouraged tax avoidance to
introduce a bill to the government later providing for prosecution
for tax avoidance.

The businessmen did not realize that their power is the law, and
the government is their servant. They did not realize this and they
served the government and some of them relied on Serge Sargsyan,
the other on Dashnaktsutiun, the third on the Republican Party, the
fourth on the opposition, the fifth on their common past, and nobody
relied on the law. Strange though it may seem, this circumstance may
also be positive, because it enables businessmen to become free from
captivity. They only need to overcome themselves and start working
under the law. In this case, they will not have to worry what will
happen to Serge Sargsyan or how many swords Dashnaktsutiun has.