CAN THE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY BE CROSSED OUT?

Lragir, Armenia
July 16 2007

In Armenia they also say the public sector in Karabakh is monotone, and
it is not accidental that a few days ago my acquaintance said "don’t
let this sphere be monotone, let some have other colors." He certainly
meant the NGOs endorsing Bako Sahakyan in the pre-election period.

When the political forces endorse the candidate, it is somehow logical,
but it is illogical when the NGOs come together to support the same
candidate Bako Sahakyan. No doubt the ranks of these organizations are
either unaware of the decision of the elite or are simply against their
decision. Meanwhile, no NGO has endorsed the other candidates. In fact,
the NGOs should come together not to support a candidate and shorten
the rights of voters but to guarantee the freedom of election and to
exercise public control over the election. And it is not accidental
that only 8 observers from the local organizations have been registered
with the NKR Central Electoral Commission, because an organization
that endorses one of the candidates cannot observe the election. It
allows for some suggestions. First, the public sector trusts the
government and approves the candidate put up by the candidate and
considers public control unnecessary. Second, it is possible that
the NGOs made this decision out of fear to lose what they have, or
to please the government. It follows that in Karabakh public control
is disappearing, to put it mildly. And if in a country this control
is diminishing, we can cross out the future and development of the
country. And my acquaintance is right that everything is in the wrong
place in this country, and so is the public sector, which is already…

If this is the case in the pre-election period, what will happen
under the government elected without public control? Can we hope
that this control will "resurrect"? Certainly not. And it means that
people will continue to serve humbly the government. Nevertheless,
the choice is up to people, and they choose their future.