Elections in Armenia

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Artsakh, let me say this as well.

I somewhat understand your severe mental disorders when it comes to the ARF, but I would have never-ever expected you to defend a treasonous criminal like Petrosian.

Petrosian had noble beginings. Eventually, however, Petrosian became the greatest danger Artsakh faced. Eventually, Petrosian became a pathetic stooge for the West. Eventually, Petrosian became a Turkophile and a Russophobe. Your hero Vazgen Sarkisian knew all this well for, if you recall, he ousted Petrosian amd allowed Kocharyan to take over. What you are doing here is actually nothing short of disgusting. Let me get this right - you attack the ARF and defend the Petrosian administration? And you call your self an Armenian? I'm actually shocked at your low intellect and moral integrity. Even the little respect I had left towards you is now lost forever. For me you are either a ignorant lowlife or an unwitting tool of the enemies of the Armenian nation.

And the pyschobabbling he/she with her severe obsession towards me will side with the unthinkable just to feed his/her inflated ego.

[Siamanto]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

As far as an individual, i don't see armenia's future tied to 1 individual. Rather, if the rule of law exists, then and only then will Armenia go forward rapidly. if the rule of law exists, armenia would be the greatest country ever to live in. but without the rule of law, armenia will remain backward no matter how many multi-million you invest there and no matter how may high rise buildings you put up. and

I agree that the future of a mature democracy based on
1. A stable and mature economy
2. Properly and transparently functioning organizations, institutions and government agencies
3. A mature society, aware of its rights and responsibilities
4....
Would not depend on individuals - even when some may manage to cause temporary and/or local "disturbances."
However, Armenia is not there yet and its dynamics is closer to a still volatile nascent organization, similar to a startup.

Also, a mature democracy or not; the purpose of Presidential Elections is to select, among a small number of candidates, the one who is considered as the most capable to handle the challenges that faces the country during the next few years and, at one point, the choice should be made. The candidate should also be "appropriate" i.e. be able to integrate - and function within - an already operational team.
Of course, it is more than desirable or necessary to see beyond the "next few years" - i.e. the tactical goals - and also consider the future of the country - strategical goals or vision; however, at this phase of its evolution, to what degree can Armenia afford the luxury to focus on strategic issues? In any case, they should not be discarded or ignored.

To a certain degree, the role of a President is comparable to the role of a CEO, and before starting the hiring and selection process
1. The needs, goals, challenges and vision of the organization should be - at least, to a certain degree - clarified
2. Based on 1, the profile of the "right" candidate somehow specified
So, before we consider, compare and assess the presidential candidates,
1. What do you think are Armenia's most crucial of needs, goals, challenges - both tactical and strategic - and what vision should Armenia have?
2. What is the profile of the "right" candidate?

thus far, the current authorities have failed in establishing the rule of law in the country, and its time for them to step down. serje replacing robo is just the continuation of the same regime.

To illustrate what I've said above,
1. I consider establishing a Rule of Law, as a strategic goal
2. Isn't continuity - specially, at this phase of Armenia's evolution - desirable, and wouldn't a candidate who is unable to integrate an already operational team be "inappropriate?"


Of course, the "right" candidate may not exist and the selection can only be a compromise, based on many - and sometimes incompatible - factors.

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Dashnaks Delay Choice Of Presidential Candidate


By Astghik Bedevian and Anna Saghabalian

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) ended a three-day congress in Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday without announcing the long-awaited name of its candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections.

The official nomination of that candidate was expected to top the agenda of the gathering held behind the closed doors.

Delegates only reaffirmed the decision by the nationalist party represented in Armenia’s government not to endorse Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and to contest the presidential ballot independently. They also approved a shortlist of two top Dashnaktsutyun leaders willing to run for president. Those are Vahan Hovannisian, deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, and Armen Rustamian, chairman of its committee on foreign relations.

In a written statement, Dashnaktsutyun said it will hold another congress in November to officially nominate one of the two men as a presidential candidate.

“We just wanted to know the views of our supporters before making the final decision,” Hrant Markarian, another Dashnaktsutyun leader, said, commenting on the delay. “We still have time.”

Markarian denied that the party is divided over whom to nominate for the presidency. “You may be surprised, but the convention unanimously approved the candidacy of the two men,” he told RFE/RL.

Dashnaktsutyun refused to throw its weight behind Sarkisian’s presidential bid despite joining his reshuffled coalition cabinet as a junior partner after the May parliamentary elections. The party further distanced itself from the government by making it clear that it will bear responsibility only for the work of three government ministries headed by Dashnaktsutyun members.

Its statement on Monday deplored a “slowdown in profound and comprehensive democratic reforms implemented in the country” and Armenians’ “growing alienation from and disappointment with the authorities and political forces.” It also expressed concern at government corruption and a “continuing intertwining of politics and business.”

Markarian said Sarkisian’s victory in the presidential vote would be bad for Armenia as it would mean that virtually all branches of government are controlled by a single individual. He claimed that his party sees a “real chance” of defeating Sarkisian.

Markarian declared last week that his party is now in “positive opposition” to the government. A leading member of Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK) scoffed at the remark on Monday.

“Opposition is opposition and government is government,” said Galust Sahakian. “The difference between them is clear.”

“They want to paint the HHK in black and attribute all good things to them,” he complained.

(Photolur photo)

http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/09/83D760BC-3A6F-4452-BEB8-D4E4C01B2CDE.ASP

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Artsakh, let me say this as well.

I somewhat understand your severe mental disorders when it comes to the ARF, but I would have never-ever expected you to defend a treasonous criminal like Petrosian.

Dude, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm pulling on your nuts and trying to get a rise out of you, and piss off the Dashnak akhperutyun into taking over the forum.

[Siamanto]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

16:30 17/09/2007

SAHAKYAN SUGGESTS DASHNAKSUTIUN EITHER TO PUT DOWN COAT OF OPPOSITION OR REFUSE ITS PORTFOLIOS

“I believe we will not have any problem of responding to Dashnaksutiun and will continue our work. In the course of years, attempts have been made to ascribe all black colors during elections to the Republican party and the best to them,” Galust Sahakyan, newly appointed deputy chairman of the Armenian Republican Party (HHK), reacted so to the question of reporters today who asked to comment on an opinion in Supreme Assembly of Dashnaksutiun saying Dashnaksutiun is not identical with authorities in power in terms of illegalities. Sahakyan said the attitude is typical not only to Dashnaksutiun also saying they have got used to it and will analyze and react accordingly during their assembly.
Speaking about the election formats of Dashnaksutiun, Sahakyan stated that Dashnaksutiun must decide now if it will take part in the elections in an “opposition coat” or as part of authorities. “If they are going to take part in an opposition coat, it means Dashnaksutiun will not be part of authorities. If it is part of authorities, it must make arrangements with the authorities in power on supervision of elections,” HHK deputy chairman said suggesting Dashnaksutiun either to refuse from the layers of authorities, call back its ministers and take part in the elections in that format or keep to authorities and take part in the presidential elections “more correctly” and “with the responsibility of an authority.”

The question is: Would the ARF violate its most fundamental principle and refrain from political opportunism and flip-flopping?

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

The question is: Would the ARF violate its most fundamental principle and refrain from political opportunism and flip-flopping?

The answer is NO. They will even side with the Turks if it means more seats.

Their current activities in Armenia with regards to the presidential elections is laughable. They have no support base in Armenia, in the first place, and are they stupid enough to actually believe that anyone is going to give them the seat of president?

The only reason they are doing this is to steal votes from the opposition. They only reason that they support kocaryan and will support serge sarkisyan is because they know full well that the threat of getting banned in armenia is real once an opposition politican comes to power.

In the mean time, i enjoy playing games of my own with their minds here on this forum. hehehehehehehehehe

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

I think that Diasporan Armenians should have the honesty to admit that the intricacies and subtleties of (present day) Armenia's domestic politics are beyond their understanding, be as neutral as possible and limit their participation to lobbying for Armenian interests in the countries of the Diaspora.

or, at the very minimum, not lobby against Armenian interests, as in the case of a certain political lobby that comes to mind.

[Siamanto]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

The answer is NO. They will even side with the Turks if it means more seats.

Considering their track record, I won't be surprised if they did.

Their current activities in Armenia with regards to the presidential elections is laughable. They have no support base in Armenia, in the first place, and are they stupid enough to actually believe that anyone is going to give them the seat of president?

I don't know how they were perceived during the Soviet rule and how they are nowadays; however, I wonder what role "financial incentives" played in building the limited "support base in Armenia," Artsakh and now, Javakhk???

The only reason they are doing this is to steal votes from the opposition. They only reason that they support kocaryan and will support serge sarkisyan is because they know full well that the threat of getting banned in armenia is real once an opposition politican comes to power.

As you know, I don't have a high opinion of the ARF and their mafia like practices; but, I think that they should not be banned. In any case, it's very likely that they will slowly and naturally lose relevance and/or die as Armenia gets more prosperous and less dependent on external "financial incentives."

In the mean time, i enjoy playing games of my own with their minds here on this forum. hehehehehehehehehe

By "mind," do you mean a collection of pre-conceived and prepackaged views and statements?

I wish it was otherwise but, unfortunately, if not confronted they will most likely intensify their activities, doing what they do best i.e. manipulate opinions in every possible way in order to - as you said - "take over [- in this case -] the forum."

or, at the very minimum, not lobby against Armenian interests, as in the case of a certain political lobby that comes to mind.

Yes, that's part of it.

[Lernakan]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Baku becomes more intense in war, for now it is the information war

The world, the same Azerbaijan and Armenia too have become so used to Baku's strategy, that a single new portal will change nothing.

22.09.2007 GMT+04:00

The Azeri propaganda machine has now started to function through the new web-site called IREVAN. The way it is called already speaks of the fact that the capital of Armenia Yerevan in the neighboring state is called “Irevan”, and consequently it may not be Armenian, like there is no Armenia, but Western Azerbaijan in the Azeri history books, which “sooner or later will reunite with the motherland”. The most interesting thing is that the name comes in Persian interpretation, but such trifles have long stopped bothering anyone in Baku. What must be paid attention to is that the “truth” about Armenia is disseminated through internet, and that is in two languages; in Armenian and Russian.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The site is created by the information-analytical center “Irevan”, which has been functioning in Baku since 2006. According to the head of the center Sabir Erivanli, the main aim of the Center is the study of the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the problems in the field: “The idea of creating the Internet portal was born by the fact that Armenian speaking internet users have so far had the chance to get information about the problems of the region only in the light of the Armenian point of view. Starting from today they will be given the opportunity to learn about the viewpoints of both parties on the same problems and issues. The sites in Armenian will interest not only the Armenian speaking citizens of the neighboring Republic, but also for all the Armenian speaker people spread all over the world, including the Azeri region of Nagorno-Karabakh”. In short, this site is created for Armenia and for the Armenian Diaspora. Perhaps, there will be a godforsaken place, where Russian and Armenian languages are spoken, where the articles provided by some unknown and unauthorized people will be read it would be thought that “Azerbaijan is on a right path”.

We should not stay indifferent to the issue, for Armenia may lose the information war that has launched. The initiators of the site are well aware of the situation in Armenia. Moreover, it is predicted that they will strongly advertise the candidacy of the first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan for the upcoming Presidential Elections in Armenia scheduled in March. It is understandable, for the ex-President has always said and done what has been quite pleasing to the opposite party until he was sent in his resignation. There is no guarantee that he has changed and his words of September 21st about the necessity of opening the borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan serve as a proof. Levon Ter-Petrosyan is hardly ignorant of the fact that the border was closed by Turkey… The heading “Who is Who in Armenia” wrote about the Armenian ex-President; “Levon Ter-Petrosyan is rather principled, and besides he often gets under the influence of the surrounding. Is partially indecisive, often avoids taking strict measures against his opponents, partially isolated from the Armenian reality. In spite of his popularity among the city intellectuals, L. Ter-Petrosyan could never repair his relations with the lower social strata and there was the opinion that he avoids the representatives of the province.”

16 biographies, which could be written only in Armenia, have already been published. Could this mean that the site has co-operators in Yerevan? Let us bring two more examples; “Vano Siradeghyan (RA former Minister of Home Affairs) is very determined, rather principled, always ready to pursue his viewpoint, uncompromising, doesn't avoid open confrontations with his opponents, is loyal to his alleys, (he fought till the last breath for L.Ter-Petrosyan). He doesn't avoid taking extreme measures to accomplish his political goals. He enjoys the reputation of a generous person, has always been more attentive to the poor and has been involved in charity. At the same time he is a little contradicting, hot-tempered and emotional, unable to hide his negative attitude to certain people. He isn't a man of good manners and often is rather rude with people. Anyone who shares the values and opinions of those from Dashnaktsutiun he considers to be betrayers.”

The truth is though that things are not as bad as we could think. The world, the same Azerbaijan and Armenia too have become so used to Baku's strategy, that a single new portal will change nothing.

«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department
! Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to «PanARMENIAN.Net».

http://panarmenian.net/details/eng/?nid=800

[Tatavla]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

oh i wish vartan oskanian could win it...its practically planned out anyways...