Lragir, Armenia
Oct 5 2007
WHAT SERGE SARGSYAN BELIEVES AND WHAT SERGE SARGSYAN DISBELIEVES
When Vladimir Putin in Russia agreed to lead the ticket of the
pro-government Yedinaya Rossia Party and did not rule out taking up
the office of prime minister after leaving office of president, many
started thinking in Armenia that Robert Kocharyan might do the same.
Certainly, Robert Kocharyan cannot lead the ticket of the Yedinaya
Rossia Party. The post of prime minister is meant. There had been
such suppositions before Putin’s statement. When Robert Kocharyan
said he was not worse than others and he was not likely to retire,
the society thought that the president hinted at the post of prime
minister after his term of presidency ends. When Putin did not rule
it out, the society in Armenia came to the definitive conclusion that
if Putin decided to become prime minister, he would approve Robert
Kocharyan for the post of prime minister.
Perhaps Serge Sargsyan is also anxious, who stated a few days after
Putin that he does not think Robert Kocharyan wants to be prime
minister. `I have no reason not to believe Robert Kocharyan,’ Serge
Sargsyan stated. Now it is interesting to know what reason he has to
believe Robert Kocharyan. Not in the sense that the president
regularly lies, but in the sense what Serge Sargsyan believes and
what Serge Sargsyan disbelieves. Did he have Robert Kocharyan’s word
not to wish to be prime minister? Perhaps it is rather important
because if Serge Sargsyan has his word and says he trusts him not to
go back on his word, it means he fears that if Robert Kocharyan does
not keep his word, and wishes to be prime minister, Serge Sargsyan
cannot prevent him. In this case, it is interesting to know what the
parliament majority led by Serge Sargsyan is for. After all, the
president appoints prime minister when the parliament majority
approves the nomination, and if Robert Kocharyan wished to be prime
minister, Serge Sargsyan could prevent him by relying on the
parliament majority or might not prevent him but would control Robert
Kocharyan the prime minister through the parliament majority.
In other words, the absolute victory on May 12 was thought to
guarantee Serge Sargsyan absolute control of government levers, and
his further actions show that he got and uses this possibility. Serge
Sargsyan leaves no space for even the weather forecast on the air and
pages of the government propaganda machine. Consequently, he should
not worry who the next president will be for the parliament is his
for the next five years. Consequently, when Serge Sargsyan
disbelieves that Robert Kocharyan will break his promise, which is
the same as the arrangement, it means he does not think himself to
control fully the situation, and what Serge Sargsyan is doing now is
but with the approval of Robert Kocharyan. In other words, the TV
channels and print media, meetings in the regions, the parliament
majority have been generously provided to Serge Sargsyan by Robert
Kocharyan. And it is interesting to know in return for what this
generosity is. Only security of his life and possessions in the
future? Judging by Robert Kocharyan’s statement that he is not worse
than others, he would not have been so generous in return for that
much and would not have given all to Serge Sargsyan and kept only
retirement for himself. But if they had arranged something else,
Serge Sargsyan would not fear that Robert Kocharyan would become
prime minister and take away all his power, turning him into an
observer. It means Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan have no
long-term arrangement. And in this case Robert Kocharyan has more
advantages because, unlike Serge Sargsyan, his goal is uncertain. It
is clear that Serge Sargsyan wants to be president but it is not
clear what Robert Kocharyan wants to be. Consequently, it is easier
to hinder Serge Sargsyan, for it is known where he is headed for,
than Robert Kocharyan, for it is unknown toward where he will be
moving.
HAKOB BADALYAN