SOCIETY NEEDS SERIOUS CHANGES
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar
March 12, 2008

Society seems to have overcome March 1-2 distress and the situation
seems to be quite. In this circumstances what should we do to avert
the possibility of the post-election "mass psychoses"? Leader of the
"National Unity" Artashes Geghamyan responds.

"In this situation we must try to understand what is going on,
without inflaming passions. In essence, 48% of the voters in Armenia
anticipate serious changes, which they conditioned with the change
of power. This is the first reality that must be formulated.

That is to say the conversation here is not only about the 350 thousand
citizens who voted for Levon Ter-Petrosyan, but also those who voted
for the leaders of "Orinats Yerkir", Dashnaktsutyun parties and all
the other candidates. Those candidates who during the pre-election
campaign spoke about radical changes.

And what is more important, the 53% citizens who voted for Serge
Sargsyan also expect to see changes in the country, but of course
these people don’t link it with the change of power. So, in this issue
we have a pan-national consensus. But the ways and the approaches to
make those changes are different.

Thus considering the great need of the society for serious changes,
we must try to analyze which method is the best, the most beneficial
for the national interests and the state and of course, the solution
of Karabakh conflict in favor of Armenia. When you consider the issue
from this viewpoint, you draw a conclusion that taking into account
the election returns, the approaches of the pro-governmental candidate
is the most required.

Unfortunately Levon Ter-Petrosyan was trying to speculate the need of
the society for serious changes, to take power, completely ignoring
the state interest and the people’s unification.

Had Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s struggle been aimed at Armenia’s development,
he shouldn’t have excluded cooperation with the winner candidate
and moreover close his door in front of the Catholicos of all
Armenians. And I especially want to mention that I admire the
patriarchal manifestation of the Catholicos. With this step he yet
again proved that he deserves this high title.

When you compare all this you understand who is guided by the interests
of the people, and who is trying to solve the issues of the foreign
powers, no matter how much he will try to hide his steps by his
slogans and promises.

There is a big difference between his words and his deeds."

"Anyhow could we ever imagine that an Armenian would ever raise his
hand against an Armenian soldier? How we got to this point?"

"What happened on March 1-2, was unfortunately a consequence of more
serious issues. The value system of Armenian people, Armenian family
is deteriorated. In 1988 each intellectual no matter he was a member
of Communists Party or not, he was a high ranking official or a free
artist, would openly express his opinion, give assessments to the
developments taking place in the country, because people were well
conscious that an issue of state importance is under solution. After
20 years the same issues of state importance are under solution, but
most of our academicians, scientists, writers are in the role of an
audience. As if they have become "super-civilized" and they don’t want
to hurt anyone’s feelings. In case when Armenia is facing the dilemma
"to be or not to be".

Of course it is not important to share the same viewpoint with the
pro-governmental or the pro-oppositional powers. The most important
thing for us is to be honest. Everyone must be ready to openly express
his standpoints, to help people orientate themselves. But during
the recent 17 years the word has become so worthless, that even the
truth is ignored by the high-ranking officials. This estrangement is
in the society and today we taste the fruits of this estrangement.

Moreover when you speak about the state, the strengthening of the
statehood you are immediately considered someone who wants to attract
the authorities.

They forget that authorities are changeable and the state is an
everlasting value. Today we must try to clarify the issues for the
future development of the country. And we must also try to find the
ways to solve these issues.

What types of sacrifices do they require, what expectations should
we have from each citizen and what expectations should each citizen
have from the leader of the country. Moreover we shouldn’t forget
about the 350 thousand voters, who unfortunately linked the future
of the country with Levon Ter-Petrosyan."