Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to first and second presidents Levon Ter-Petrossian and Robert Kocharian, respectively, to participate in the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence was a symbolic and important move, Regional Studies Center (RSC) NGO Director Richard Giragosian told journalists in Yerevan today.
As previously reported, spokespersons for Ter-Petrossian and Kocharian said the two past presidents won’t be participating in independence day events.
“How they [i.e. Ter-Petrossian and Kocharian] respond is their problem or their opportunity,” said Giragosian without, however, explaining what he meant by Sargsyan’s move being “symbolic”.
“The real test in this country is not how the former presidents are treated. The real test is how other people are treated — those Armenians without a voice. Those evicted from Byuzand Ave., those who lost their kiosks, those who lost their sons in the army,” he continued.
According to Giragosian, in Armenia’s political climate, positive trends can be seen in the dialogue between the opposition and the ruling authorities — “but the real test is whether it’s too little, too late.”
“It’s a test of political will today. It’s not one test; it’s many tests. One test is the economics of the oligarchs. The oligarchs have emerged as the number one threat to the state itself by not paying taxes. It’s the biggest challenge to the economy because they keep the economy closed.
“Another test of political will is the unacceptable deaths within the Armenian Armed Forces — where people like [Yuri] Khachaturov, Mikhaeil Harutyunyan and Seyran Ohanyan and [Armenian] President Serzh Sargsyan have to answer to what they are doing to stop this unacceptable, outrageous performance,” said Giragosian.