ARMENIA SHOULD MAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF PLURALISTIC FORMS OF STATEHOOD AND DEMOCRACY

By Oksana Musaelyan, ArmInfo. June 15, 2007
2007-06-28 15:05:00

An Interview with Head of OSCE Yerevan Office, Ambassador Vladimir
Pryakhin

Activity of Yerevan Office of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is considered most successful among
the OSCE participating States. It has become possible due to your
personal merit, particularly, your active involvement as the Head of
the OSCE Yerevan Office, and your successful co-operation with local
authorities . How effective do you consider Office activities nowadays?

Over the last 3.5 years activities of the Office have expanded and
become effective, which is evident not only from office activities’
indicators, but in the first place due to Armenia’s current
state. Armenia is a full-fledged national and sovereign state, enjoying
authority, respect and recognition of the world community. Significant
(positive) changes are observed in the country: the country has
reformed its state and political structure turning from a country
with strong presidential system into a parliamentary-presidential
republic. This is, undoubtedly, a progressive step forward in line with
the present political realities. The country politically has become
more stable and the authority of the government has considerably
grown, which is a positive moment, indeed. In future, I’d like to
see development of the civil society and mass media, so that they
can find their place in the political process. Speaking politically,
Armenia needs to make another step towards development of pluralistic
forms of statehood and democracy.

The best guarantee of the Office’s success is the mutual desire of
the OSCE and the Republic of Armenia on the state and public levels
for cooperation, adoption and dissemination of OSCE values and
standards throughout Armenia, for democracy and freedoms, as well
as new democratic institutions, cannot be imposed from outside. It
requires a serious, deep and sincere desire for modernization,
integration to European values, which is evident here. There is no
political force in Armenia that would be against this. Naturally, it
helps the Office’s work.Which were the priority areas of the OSCE’s
activity in Armenia when you headed the Office? What essential tasks
have you accomplished during these years?

The Office contributed to the structural reforms in the country. We
had worked with the Armenian authorities on the Constitutional
amendments for a long time. Now, 1.5 a year later, one can say
that it was a successful contribution to the country’s development
in very complicated conditions. The Constitutional amendments have
made the country’s political structure more advanced despite of some
subjective factors.

Besides, the request of the Armenian authorities and many OSCE
participating States for increasing the economic and ecological
component of our Office’s activity has been largely met. Now, more
than one-fourth of our budget is spent on economic and ecological
projects. Aarhus movement, the so-called "green democracy" movement,
has been successfully implemented in Armenia because the right
to environmental information is one of the fundamental human
rights. Currently, we have 9 Aarhus Centres throughout Armenia
opened with our support.Moreover, we have responded to the request
of the Armenian authorities to assist in elimination of rocket
fuel component nicknamed mélange, which has been stored in Armenia
since 1989. We have succeeded in the implementation of this project
due to close co-operation with local authorities and support of the
international community. The implementation of this project is nearing
completion. It is 872 tons of environmentally hazardous substance. By
eliminating melange Armenia has become an example for other states,
also as solving global problems.

The Office also has its contribution to the work on electoral
legislation.

Does the present Electoral Code meet the European standards or it
needs further improvement? Yes, the Office contributed to the country
improving the electoral legislation. Now, it allows conducting free
and fair elections if there is a political will. It does not mean
that the document needs further improvement. One should not overdo it,
as continuous changes may become an obstacle to the election process
itself, the work of commissions, and even to voters.

What do you think of the present political culture in the context of
the past elections? How would you assess the general political and
social situation in the country?

The situation is more stable, people are more confident in their
future, in general. I’d call the situation as favorable. Despite
the disagreements between isolated political segments, there is a
national consensus on basic issues of the country’s development. It
is positive, indeed. However, there is also a negative part or a task
for the future.

Thus, the system of political pluralism in the country needs
improvement in order for both the parliamentary and non-parliamentary
political forces have an influence on the political process and
decision-making. Returning to the one-party system of the past years,
which brought nothing good should not happen. At present Armenia
has grown to the level where the fight for power can and should
take place through making comparisons of constructive programmes
of social-economic development of the country. Thus, just declaring
conceptual views of the policy, and particularly, the social policy,
and a proposal for raising pensions and improving the electricity
supply system, for instance, are not enough. Such programmes must be
a basis for comparison of political platforms and a serious claim
for power. From this point of view, I think that all the political
parties in Armenia face heavy tasks. Moreover, Armenia is speeding
up the process of integration into Europe. The political culture in
Armenia is one of the highest in the post-Soviet area due to the local
traditions. Nevertheless, Armenia still has much to do. Despite their
good political insight, Armenians are using it in the Soviet archaic
form, which is outdated. Now, it needs to follow progressive experience
of various democracies, and Armenia succeeds in it, especially in the
legislative sphere. However, much is still to be done to fulfill the
new legislation.

Do you think the 15-percentage gender quota in the parliament is
enough for strengthening women’s role in it?

It seems it has not changed much in reality since there were 7 women
in the parliament of the former convocation, and they are 12 now. No,
it is an essential change. The women in the parliament grew in number
almost twice.

Every vote is 1.3% of the total; so 12 votes are additional 6-7%. My
view on it is that "little pigeons can carry great messages." In
principal, the quoting has not received a unique-estimate even in
different OSCE participating States. Our position is that Armenian
women must participate in decision-making especially in politics and
in the parliament. Therefore we positively considered the new quota
and the amendment to it saying that women must not go last in the
party list. I know all the women elected to the parliament. These
are active and well-prepared participants to the political process. I
think it has seriously strengthened the parliament.

New persons, particularly, businessmen, have come to replace many
politicians who had formed the country’s political culture for years.

What impact it will have on big politics?

Frankly speaking, we have not yet looked at the increase of businessmen
in the parliament, as it is not essential for us. It is more important
that they are elected through free and fair election. The material
welfare of deputies should not be regarded when assessing them as
political figures.

After all, a man can use his/her authority, wealth and brain for the
welfare of the country.

What would you advise to your successor? Can you name him already?

The chairmanship is currently selecting the candidates. I know
that these are rather competent candidates. I’d like my successor
to continue what has been started. The project "Melange" must be
successfully brought to an end within the coming months. Moreover, the
police reform project aimed at creating a new democratic police needs
further attention. Much has already been done, but the police needs to
acquire new democratic skills of dealing with people, so that they feel
themselves as servants of the people rather than their supervisors. We
are very grateful to the donor-states, particularly, to Belgium,
Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, USA, Canada, which
contributed to both the "Melange" and the Police Assistance Programmes.

–Boundary_(ID_GBEzu3TuJSyj8MAqUFHnMA )–