ANOTHER IMMORAL VICTORY
Lragir.am
20 May 06
The recent `great migration’ in the political sphere of Armenia,
witnessed by the entire society, became, in fact, the threshold of a
new political event. At the moment it is difficult to predict who and
how will step pastthis threshold, and what awaits them after they take
this step. This is politics, and what happened is, though important,
but merely part of it. The disaffiliation of the businessmen from the
Orinats Yerkir Party, and generally, apart from all, the appearance
and disappearance of businessmen in any political party has an
economic importance. The environment that causes rats to abandon the
ship shatters politics the way it threatens the country’s
economicstate.
In economy there is a notion of business reputation, which is almost a
belief in business; at least this is so in developed and developing
countries.
Business reputation is earned through behavior, working style, dignity
of a businessman. How can a businessman have a reputation at all if he
is constantly sent from one party to another? How will his efforts to
involve foreign investors with huge financial capacities to expand,
develop his business, in other words, to prosper, be met? What serious
businessman will agree to cooperate with a businessman who appears
inside this or that political force on an instruction of the
leadership, ready to secede from it on a another instruction at a
necessary moment, serving the political aims of the government?
Whereas in civilized countries the political leadership normally
serves the interests of businesses. Usually, businessmen `hire’
politicians, whofollow the ideology that favors their interests, who
serve the interests of these businessmen in the political sphere. Even
the Armenian children age 1-7 have perceived this durable pattern
practiced in civilized countries with a successful political system,
whereas most businessmen in Armenia would not perceive it. At best
they would set up their own political party, but again following an
instruction from the government. And this does not differ essentially
fromthe phenomenon of creeping into party tickets. In this case,
however, they aregoing to dismantle their own party, not that of
others.
And if the one who has assumed to direct this business `migration’
thinks that the potential foreign partners of the businessmen of
Armenia overlook this phenomenon is bitterly mistaken. Perhaps this is
the reason why investments in Armenia are made by Russian businessmen,
involved in criminal stories in their countries, or companies with
anonymous owners in offshore. It does not make a difference to them
which businessman the government will attach to them, for they
directly deal with the leadership. Maybe this is the reasonwhy the
government deliberately discredits businessmen. For the foreign
investors to deal with the government rather than businessmen, knowing
that the government is the chief of the businessmen. At any rate, if
they do not get billions, they are sure to get millions.
What prospects can an economy have if its main players are discredited
on the will and knowledge of the political leadership of the country?
And also their own ignorance. At least, it is a chance if the
businessmen become engaged in this dangerous game without knowing,
without realizing the dangers of this situation for the country and
for themselves. Because getting used to entering and exiting they may
come into the habit of it. What is a businessman going to do if there
is nowhere else to enter or to exit, and if there is no instruction?
And generally what is a businessman supposed to do later if he is used
to work under someone else’s protection, receiving privilegesfor
service and obedience? What is a businessman going to do if one day
instead of a political party or another he is ordered to give up his
own company, house or country? Are the businessmen ready for this?
Whereas they should know better the `business rule’ of Armenia: one
day another person willshow up who will offer better service and they
may lose the competition.
HAKOB BADALYAN