Richard Giragosian: Armenia will become either authoritarian country
like Belarus or democratic country like Belgium
4
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN. According to political scientist
Richard Giragosian, the Director of the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS), the presidential elections held in
Armenia and U.S. in 2008 have many similarities. As he mentioned at a
discussion organized on the initiative of ACNIS on March 12, the
American and Armenian societies were much alike especially because both
were tired of their former Presidents, George Bush and Robert
Kocharian. However, according to R. Giragosian, the essential
difference is that U.S. President Barack Obama "managed to fulfill his
slogan regarding changes," but no change took place in Armenia in spite
of opposition’s efforts. "The reason is that the votes are indeed
significant in the U.S. and electoral violations are an exception and
not regularity there," the political scientist said.
According to R. Giragosian’s estimation, today Armenia has reached a
political point, from where there are two ways: either to a more
authoritarian country like Belarus or to a democratic country like
Belgium. According to him, in order to adopt the way of democracy we
should learn three lessons from the United States: to separate politics
from business, to establish big ideological parties, and to achieve
authorities’ not considering the opposition their enemies.
Suzanna Barseghian, the ANC Studies’ Coordinator, in her turn, said
that Armenia’s main achievement over the past year is the political
awakening of part of society and change in public perceptions. Now,
according to her, everything should be done for that society not to be
disappointed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
