Epress.am News from Armenia
If skinheads, oligarchs’ bodyguards and different types of provocateurs were being sent in during the incidents of March 1, 2008, in Armenia, then being sent in Egypt were horsemen and camels, which performed the same function, said Armenian National Congress member and Armenia’s former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanyan, comparing the similarities between the clashes between protestors and police in Armenia in 2008 and in Egypt currently while speaking to journalists in Yerevan today.
He considers it natural that Armenia’s authorities are keeping silent and avoiding making statements on the protests in Egypt.
“Because an illegitimate government that maintained power through slaughter, of course, must protect and support an illegitimate tyrant like itself. When people fight against tyranny and don’t raise their voice against another tyrant, look on quietly, that is an unacceptable approach because it deprives these people [the opportunity] to expect the support of other movements tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking on the necessity of a leader in such situations, Arzumanyan said, when the time of people’s wrath comes, it’s not important whether there’s a leader or not.
“The cases of Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Tunisia show us that despite leaders, the people themselves come out to the streets. Have you heard speeches where people read analytical speeches, carry out explanatory work? No, it’s very clear, the ideology of this revolution. Egypt’s main slogan is [made up of] three words: Bread, freedom and dignity. And this slogan can also work in Armenia. The existence of social problems today proves this slogan’s contemporaneity,” he said.