BI-POLAR CONFRONTATION TO CONTINUE
Armen Tsaturyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
16 Sep 2008
Armenia
The first autumn-demonstration organized by the radical opposition
yesterday can be considered the beginning of the new "political
season".
The regular "political autumn" in our reality starts with two internal
and external problems, which will have direct impact on the internal
political developments.
The first are the events following the presidential elections and, at
the outset, the "political capital" collected by the camp headed by
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, as a result of March 1-2 developments. Though
during the previous months it has noticeably become hackneyed,
had lost its "attraction", anyway there is certain field for speech
and hullabaloo for the forces and figures appearing in the name of
"Armenian National Congress".
"The second group of the issues" appeared due to the international
developments around Russian-Georgian blitz-war. The new situation
in the region promises "new hopes" and new disappointments to the
radical opposition.
The anticipated opposition-ruling power dispute on these key "fronts"
promises to polarize the political field.
In parallel with political intensification, you notice demarcation,
in our reality. Demarcation of not political beliefs, but personal or
group preferences, hidden under the before mentioned. As a consequence
of which the ideological-political matter of the process becomes less
essential and the small and big self-interests of its participants
prevail.
We have never been inspired of the creation of the "third force".
Recently the leaders of certain political forces made such
attempts. Those leaders that failed to find their place in the National
Assembly, those who gained the name "anti-Levon" and couldn’t picture
themselves in any political camp. It is quite understandable that
the success of this attempt depended on whether or not the before
mentioned forces could manage to withdraw the radicals having joined
Armenian National Congress and take their places, that is to say –
to become the second force.
But in our view the attempts of forming the "third force" which hasn’t
yet consolidated will very soon fail. The same working logic will work,
the poles will become stronger, and the program of the formation of
the "third force" will lose its necessary grounds.
This situation will be maintained during the coming months, up to the
beginning of winter, because this "political autumn" is, in fact,
the last chance for the pro-oppositional powers that united on the
occasion of 2008 presidential elections.
They are well aware that unlike the previous refuges of
opposition-ruling power struggle, when the dissatisfaction accumulated
due=2 0to the elections was gradually but steadily lessening, the
new international-political situation created around Armenia gives
chance to throw "new woods" into the "old fire".
This was the reason of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s famous interview
regarding South-Osatian developments, as well as the "special attitude"
manifested by the Armenian National Congress towards Karabakh conflict.
We must remind you that during the previous years Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and his followers considered Karabakh issue as a problem placed on
the shoulders of the next authorities. But at the moment they are
"deeply concerned" not only about the famous announcement made by
the Turkish President but also because of the diplomatic silence of
Armenian authorities.
It turns out, a new "national force" has appeared in Armenia in
the person of Armenian National Congress. And this force is very
concerned about the fact that Armenian authorities can compensate the
"deficiency of legitimacy" (invented by the radicals) by inappropriate
concessions regarding Karabkh issue.
The time has really changed. When people who, after resigning 10
years back were dreaming of the time when the international community
will create the most unfavorable conditions for their followers,
are suddenly concerned about the fate of Karabakh.
The speculation of issues like "political prisoners", "restoration of
legitimacy", and even Karabkh issue will only prepare better grounds
for foreign orders.
From: Baghdasarian