SILK REVOLUTION IN KARABAKH
Naira Hayrumyan
KarabakhOpen
17-10-2007 17:46:51
Only a revolution is followed by such total replacements in the
nomenclature. Apparently, a revolution has taken place, not a velvet
revolution, of course, maybe a silk revolution, the former member
parliament Levon Hairiyan says.
At first it was hard to agree with this thought because the
presidential campaign, the unification of all the political forces to
support one candidate, the intensive search for an opposition and its
persecution made think of a total victory of the government forces
in the election. But immediately after the election it became known
that everything is different than it seems.
Although the forces which supported the president came to power with
pledges to carry on the policy of the previous government, after the
election the policy of the past decade underwent a severe criticism,
and sweeping replacements in government took place. The new government
started collaborating with organizations which did not collaborate
with the old government. And so on and so forth.
During today’s meeting of parliament the young prime minister Ara
Harutiunyan severely criticized the social and economic policy of the
past decade. He said the tax and loan policy hurdled the development
of business and construction. Over the past year 230 apartments were
built and 100 were demolished in Stepanakert. And many other "trifles"
committed by the former government.
Moreover, the prime minister presented a government program which
has special focus on anti-corruption efforts. Meanwhile, the former
president had said there is no corruption in Karabakh, and no charges
on corruption have been reported over the past decade.
Hence, the policy of the former government is being rejected. And
considering that the Azat Hayrenik Party is strengthening and the
ruling Democratic Party is weakening, we may be sure to state that
an unnoticed silk revolution has been put up in Karabakh. The Azat
Hayrenik Party only needs to hold the parliament majority and nominate
a speaker. This is not impossible because soon members of parliament
will be elected in two constituencies.
The government which has just come to power needs no
opposition. Especially that those from whom power was taken do not
appear vexed. The Democratic faction voted for the government program
presented by the prime minister from the Azat Hayrenik Party despite
some sharp observations. The ex-opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun and
Movement 88 were not against either.
Hence, in Karabakh it is difficult to distinguish opposition from
government.
The only thing that we would like to note: the issues for which the
present government is criticizing the ex-government have been raised by
the independent media for a long time now. When this government came
to power, it resisted to this criticism, almost describing reporters
as foes of the nation. Now the same issues are being raised by the
prime minister.