Be Frank, Gentlemen, Life is Short
JAMES HAKOBYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 11:34:51 – 13/05/2011
In an interview with Radio Liberty the ex-speaker Tigran Torosyan put
forward an accusation to Robert Kocharyan. In his interview Robert
Kocharyan had noted that on March 1 he consulted the speaker and the
prime minister on imposing a state of emergency.
Tigran Torosyan admitted the fact of consultation however he denies
responsibility for deploying the army. `Of course, the army was not
discussed because a state of emergency does not suppose deployment of
the army,’ Tigran Torosyan says.
In fact, it appears that it was Robert Kocharyan’s decision to deploy
the army. At least, Tigran Torosyan denies responsibility, and he also
seems to accuse Robert Kocharyan for actions which violate the
Constitution and legislation.
In other words, Tigran Torosyan subtly tries to deny the
responsibility which Robert Kocharyan tried to share with the speaker
and the prime minister then.
However, in this situation the question occurs if Tigran Torosyan
asked Robert Kocharyan during the consultation what Kocharyan was
going to do. Was it discussed what forces he was going to use to keep
the state of emergency? After all, it is logical that when the issue
of imposing a state of emergency is discussed, the means of imposing
it also must be discussed. Wasn’t it interesting for the speaker to
know how Robert Kocharyan was going to impose a state of emergency?
If these questions were not discussed during the consultation, the
question occurs if there was a consultation at all. And if there were
questions, it is interesting to know what answers Kocharyan gave.
Because it is possible that Kocharyan told the speaker it was none of
his business or lied he was not going to deploy the army. However,
upon approval of state of emergency he deployed the army.
In other words, if Tigran Torosyan really wants to be responsible but
he wants to be held responsible only for what he was responsible on
March 1, he must reveal more details on the events of that day, the
consultation with Robert Kocharyan.
Answering the question of Radio Liberty if what Kocharyan said means
that the speaker is also responsible for the state of emergency and
its consequences, Tigran Torosyan said when something extraordinary
happens in the country, everyone, especially the authorities, are
responsible to some extent.
Tigran Torosyan is right but to some extent only. The entire
government bears political responsibility, especially the top
government. However, responsibility is a very concrete notion.
Consequently, it is necessary to clarify for what each official was
responsible on March 1. Therefore, the details are necessary. And
there is no need to wait for an opportunity to present them to the
court. First it is possible to present them to the society through
speeches, articles, interviews and press conferences. Be frank,
gentlemen, because frankness at least attenuates the crime if there is
such. If not, it raises one’s popularity, which is so necessary in the
modern world.