Economic Miracle And Belgian Analyst’s Ears
A1 Plus | 18:24:00 | 06-09-2004 | Social |
“I don’t believe my ears when I hear there is economic progress in
Armenia”, Belgian International Crisis Group /ICG/ senior analyst
Philip Noubel said at a seminar held Sunday in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia,
on prospects of conflict settlement.
He specified that there is certain progress but for a minority
of people. Only 3 or 4 percent of the republic’s population live well.
Noubel is convinced that there can’t be any economic growth amid
ongoing corruption, human resources mismanagement and a dependent
justice system.
He also sees serious problems linked with the republic authorities’
legitimacy that led to civil unrest.
Belgian analyst said he had managed to notice certain difference in
perception of Karabakh conflict by Armenia’s population, Karabakhis
and Armenians living overseas.
In his words, Armenia’s many residents say they became captives of
Karabakhis, Armenians from foreign communities say there is need of
fighting for Karabakh, but, at the same time, they say they don’t
want to fight because they live, for example, in California.
Noubel hasn’t been in Karabakh but talked to many Karabakhis
who accused Armenia’s population of being not so patriotic
considering Karabakh issue. The ICG representative said he saw no
favourable-for-dialogue atmosphere in Armenia.