WHAT DO THEY HIDE FROM THE PUBLIC?
Aram Zakaryan
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, the chair of the Council of the
Republican Party, commenting on the statements that "the Republican
Party and namely the council of the party admitted criminals" announced
September 1 that if a public official does not speak Armenian well it
does not mean he is a criminal, or if he does not look intelligent at
first sight it does not mean he is a criminal. First, it should be
noted that under the Armenian legislation, if an Armenian does not
speak Armenian, he breaks the law and the punishment is a fine. As
to intelligentsia, we can judge by the biographies of the members of
the council of the party separately and altogether. Serge Sargsyan’s
statements interested us, and we decided to scan their biographies
available on the official web site of the Republican Party.
For instance, the biography of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
leader of the Republican Party, is rather detailed, and beside the
biographic facts it is mentioned that "guided by the ideas of G.
Njdeh in his political activities, Andranik Margaryan criticized the
Soviet totalitarian system, upheld the Armenian Cause and saw the
future of the Armenian people in a democratic independent state".
Meanwhile, there is nothing about the political or ideological
preferences of the chair of the council of the party Serge
Sargsyan, Tigran Torosyan, or Hovik Abrahamyan. But the author of
the biography of the prime minister’s son Taron Margaryan, 28 had
a lyrical digression. "In his public and political activities Taron
Margaryan took part in a number of youth, political, environmental,
educational, cultural conferences and seminars, including the ones
held in the framework of regional cooperation, organized by different
authoritative organizations."
It is emphasized in Hovik Abrahamyan’s biography that he became member
of the Republican Party on July 20, 1988. In the others’ biographies,
this information is limited to the year of membership.
This approach was necessary for the members, who have recently
entered the Republican Party. For in the biographies of a considerable
part of the present members of the council of the Republican Party,
namely Serge Sargsyan, Ruben Hairapetyan, Levon Sargsyan, Yervand
Zakharyan, Karen Karapetyan, Hovanes Shahinyan, Mher Sedrakyan,
Harutiun Pambukyan, Hamlet Harutiunyan, Gagik Beglaryan and others,
it must be noted that they set records. Only several days after
their membership did they become members of the ruling body of the
political party.
Gagik Beglaryan’s biography is worth attention. "In 1985-1987 he
served in the army, afterwards he worked in different spheres of
the economy. In 1993 he was elected member of the Supreme Council of
the Republic of Armenia." There are no details where and what Gagik
Beglaryan did all this time. Only this Republican knows what he is
hiding, because in civilized countries biographies written in this
manner won’t do. Another member of the council of the Republican
Party Gagik Khachatryan hides his biography between 1973-1983.
Republicans Artashes Gabrielyan and Ruben Sadoyan are more then
surprising. If Gagik Beglaryan or Gagik Khachatryan hide 6-10 years
of their life, Artashes Gabrielyan and Ruben Sadoyan do not have
biographies at all. At least, there is nothing but photos on the
official web site of the political party. It is possible that the
biographies of Artashes Gabrielyan and Ruben Sadoyan are not for the
public, but why, for what episodes of their life?
An episode from Vazgen Karakhanyan’s biography is notable.
"In 1965-68 he studied at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute (he left
studies for political reasons)." It is possible that he has always
been a Njdehian, because according to his biographyhe was awarded
the medal of Garegin Njdeh twice, in 2003 and 2005.
Meanwhile, it is not clear why the profession of an engineer was
incompatible with Njdehian ideology.
Martin Sargsyan’s biography is full of mystery. "He graduated
from two universities, he is a qualified teacher and economist,
financier." Which universities? Sometimes people may feel shy for
one mistake of callow youth or another mistake made out of the
lack of political experience, and avoid writing about it in their
biography. But it is at least a surprise when they do not write the
name of the university they have graduated from. By the way, most
Republicans, and not only the members of the council, appreciated
higher education only after appearing in politics and graduated
from non-state universities mainly. For instance, Surik Khachatryan
imagining himself to be the sheik of Syunik, has graduated from his
own Syunik University of Goris. Surik Khachatryan also has something
to hide from the public. The history of his life between 1988-1992
is not for everyone. Jonik Abrahamyan graduated from the University
of Economics and Law of Yerevan, another non-state university.
As it was said, there are lyrical digressions in the biographies
of the prime minister and his son, which are not appropriate
for a biography. These may be true. But if this was for all the
Republicans, they should write about the minister of environmental
protection Vardan Aivazyan that "he is known for his outrageous
desire to shoot seagulls", mention in the biography of the former
policeman Alik Sargsyan, "he is known for an exceptional talent of
threatening presidential candidates from the opposition", emphasize
in Hovik Abrahamyan’s biography that according to Diasporans, he is
known in some Diasporan communities with the nickname "muk" (mouse),
and Hamlet Harutiunyan’s motto is "Who is the horse? I am the rider".