WE ARE IN A DEEP MARSH

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12:15:16 – 22/02/2010

Hranush Kharatyan: ethnographer, candidate of historical science,
Chair of the department of cultural anthropology of Yerevan Linguistic
University after V. Brusov

Mrs. Kharatyan, what are your assessments in connection with the
situation in Armenia?

Regardless the developing life, I have the impression that Armenia
appeared in a marsh. In addition everyone seems to be calm and serene
in this marsh. Many even like the governmental regime which I call
Komsomol. To be sincere, sometimes I think that the marsh is a very
convenient place for many groups. This is a marsh where everyone is
adapted to the non-expression of their professional abilities, to the
monotony of life, violence, poor material and spiritual life. After
the lasting rebels of the greater part of our society, we are living
the last circle of the marsh.

In addition, it is panic but it can be understood. It can cause panic
from the point that rapid events are happening with us but we do not
understand whether we debate with the Turks, the threats of Azerbaijan
become higher but we treat all this with indifference. While, today’s
life is our life of tomorrow, we are responsible but there is no
relevant response. If nothing else happens, and the Armenian and
Turkish protocols are not ratified, Turks will have two important
achievements the same: Armenia recognized the international borders
by signing that document and second Turkey, in the sphere of the
Armenian and Turkish relations, from a political object turned into
a political subject.

Are new ideas, new models of governance needed for going out of
the marsh?

To tell the truth, I cannot say what can be done. Perhaps, people
who are a part of the political development will do that. I think,
unless a shocking event takes place in our region no systemic change
will happen in Armenia. More, I am equally afraid of both. I am afraid
that military developments initiated by Russia in connection with the
Karabakh issue may happen which will have dangerous consequences. I
think such situation may move somehow our home problems. Nevertheless,
I do not predict any scandalous change in the nearest future.

Do you think the Congress may be reinforced after March 1 when Levon
Ter-Petrosyan holds a policy speech?

No, I do not. I do not even imagine any possibility of a constructive
speech. This is not connected with Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s personality.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a person with creative thought and massive
world vision. I see come lack of sources feeding ideas or policy
actions. In such a situation, no shocking event can even take place.

Returning to the events in ’88, we will see that they had some
inertia. They were gathered for a long time. Now this situation lacks.

Are internal or external issues the most actual ones?

It is difficult to say because our ethnographic process is so sad
and panic that I would call it the most actual issue. But is it an
internal or external issue? Both threats influence this issue. Now,
a situation of making people poorer started which was said, announced
and warned long ago. The further inflation adds. In practice, I
am sure there will be no social rebel. Maybe only some newspapers,
gathering their last forces will response.

What kind of a model of country would you propose?

I have rather socialistic views. I continue to believe that in times
of socialism people were more spiritual than material essences. This
is a problem throughout the world, while in Armenia it is not a matter
of debate. Existing models do not exhaust themselves, they will be
allowed to use power as a means of violence still for long.

Authority is not a means of violence, but a philosophical search: what
threats man’s existence on earth. Tests show that human existence is
under serious threat and between human beings there cannot be problems
at the level of resource use and distribution. We have heard ideas,
conferences or imitations are held. Real ideas gather somewhere and I
am convinced that it will break somewhere. But we are not participants
in these processes.

Interview by SIRANUYSH PAPYAN