ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT IS RULED FROM A BASEMENT: HOW MANY PRESIDENTS DOES THE COUNTRY HAVE?
H. Hamidov
Today
April 3 2010
Azerbaijan
Some people say they made their way upstairs on their own, but actually
they had some help.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan celebrated his first two years in
office April 9. The public does not know how he celebrated the event.
The only thing known about the celebrations is that Sargsyan first
left for the resort town of Dilijan to make several public statements.
When asked about ex-President Robert Kocharian’s possible return to
politics, Sargsyan said the following: "Did Kocharian quit politics
only to come back right now? He has always been in politics … There
is nothing strange about this at all."
It remains a mystery what Sargsyan meant when he said that "he has
always been in politics."
Kocharian is not officially a member of the government, does not
head any political party and is not a deputy either. He has not even
expressed an intention to run in the next municipal, parliamentary
or presidential elections.
However, for some reason, he regularly travels abroad to hold
meetings with fellow former heads of state or lower-and middle-ranking
officials.
Not long ago, he decided to hold a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group
U.S. co-chair. After some time, he criticized the Armenian government.
It is obvious that the relationship between Armenia’s current and
former presidents are either too trusting or completely damaged.
However, one can confidently say that Sargsyan is afraid of his
former boss. In fact, Kocharian did not lose power over the country,
as it seems at first glance.
Since his early days as president, Sargsyan has failed to make an
impression of an individual who completely and independently rules
his country. His recent statements also seem to create the impression
that Armenia is actually run by two presidents.
Moreover, Sargsyan is either a kind of puppet in the hands of the
influential and authoritative Kocharian, or each one of them has their
own separate government. In this case, it is possible that Kocharian
is sitting somewhere in the basement of the presidential palace,
managing his own ministers, who are also sitting in ministry basement.
Of course, Sargsyan is offended deep down inside because he thinks he
is capable of running the country on his own. But he can do nothing
about the situation.
Perhaps, this is the reason for Sargsyan’s two-faced policies on the
domestic and foreign arenas. Sargsyan wants independence and wants to
prove that he has grown up and is able to run the country. He makes
statements, takes steps and voices intentions. But after a while, he
receives yet another task on his desk "from the basement." Later, we
see a different Sargsyan, different statements, different actions. He
doesn’t like this and is frankly very offended. But really there is
nothing that he can do.
He needs to be self-confident and become a real president. He has
probably dreamed of this since the moment he took over the presidential
chair two years ago. But he lacks something. Maybe it’s a simple
human courage.
So, this is how Sargsyan is celebrating his two years in office,
responding to stinging and uncomfortable questions from local media.
But what can you do…