Karabakh Issue A Lifebelt For Political Traders

KARABAKH ISSUE A LIFEBELT FOR POLITICAL TRADERS
Haik Aramyan

Lragir
Oct 8 2007
Armenia

Interesting things are happening as the presidential election is
drawing nearer in Armenia. There is more or less clarity regarding the
stance of pro-government parties, meanwhile the traditional opposition
has found itself in a rather ambiguous state. After losing the
parliamentary election these parties are facing a to-be-or-not-to-be
problem. In this case, however, to be is equal to not to be. The point
is that for these forces to be means to adhere to one camp or another,
mainly those of the government. And a problem of self-excuse occurs,
before one’s own party ranks and before voters. A reason will always
be found, said the renowned Turkish national. And among reasons "the
most national and the most convenient" steps out – the Karabakh issue.

Quite recently the leader of the National Solidarity Party Artashes
Geghamyan has done the same thing in his party’s conference and news
conference – he has justified his likely support to the government
candidate by the imperative of coming together for the sake of
Karabakh. Certainly, it is from another story when they remember
about Karabakh. On the other hand, both Geghamyan and the other
more or less known political activists in Armenia know that nothing
threatens Karabakh more than their activity. Nevertheless, this issue
has become a lifebelt for these activists.

Geghamyan is an experienced politician, but he has never had such an
experience before. The point is that formerly the political situation
was such that it allowed escaping doubts of the society through
subtle moves. Politics is a serious thing, and it uses every means:
at times one has to concede or to reach agreement with one’s foe. And
you should be able to justify it with serious political circumstances
for people to realize there are no personal interests in between.

However, the Armenian political forces have defamed the political
sphere to a degree that they have got caught in their own trap. Now
the situation is such that they are facing a problem of being or not
being. Besides, there is no space to maneuver. And Geghamyan also knows
that "the imperative of coming together for the sake of Karabakh" no
longer works because the society understands the real value of this
"imperative" for political activists. And now one thing is left for
these political traders to do – to rip off a hair from the "dog",
the only and the last "use".