A1+

WHAT IS THE USE OF INDEPENDENCE?
[08:14 pm] 21 September, 2007

What is the use of independence? Did Armenians gain anything of it?
A1+ attempted to find the answer to these questions from our
compatriots. Almost all people surveyed (86) gave the same answer:
independence is a two-fold phenomenon.

`On the one hand Armenia has become a free and independent
country. And yet, independence also has its negative sides, there are
many homeless, unemployed and hungry people in the streets,’
bookseller Sahak said.

44-year-old Aram also pointed out the positive and negative sides of
independence. `Today each person is the master of his life, he can do
whatever he wishes, but it leads to a chaos.’

Some of the respondents complained of the lack of well-paid jobs in
the country. `In the Soviet times you could hardly find an idle man,
everyone was forced to work. Today people want to work but they cannot
find normal jobs, salaries are very low,’ 51-year-old Garnik said.

55-year-old driver Karapet complained of the rise in prices. `We can
go nowhere to rest in summer. In the past we used to go to the Black
Sea with our family while today we cannot even afford a few-day rest
in the Sevan.’

`Once people had permanent jobs and were paid regularly as they worked
for the country. Today people work for manufacturers who can dismiss
them whenever they want,’ said Anahit.

Surely, independence has its positive sides. For example today’s youth
is freer and happier.

It is noteworthy that the youth think independence is a great
achievement for the country. They believe that tomorrow will be better
than today. `Why should people miss the Soviet period? I don’t
understand them. They even feared to spend the money they
earned. Everything was controlled and people were suppressed,’ said
33-year-old Ruzanna.