Epress.am News from Armenia
New civil movements in Armenia are the effect of the development of completely new technologies, which makes it possible to take on territories outside of the country’s authorities’ control and in these territories, making the organization of people, the public and societies possible. Speaking to Epress.am in front of the Egyptian embassy in Yerevan yesterday, demonstrator and Armenian Association of Art Critics President Nazaret Karoyan expressed his opinion on the events in Egypt, making parallels with the situation in Armenia.
“Similar demonstrations, self-expressions show that what happened in Egypt takes place in Armenia as well: this allows for the possibility that events such as those in Egypt might also develop in Armenia,” he said, adding, of course, the situation is different in Armenia, the history is different and the structure of Armenian society is slightly different.
“The processes currently happening in the Arab world, which are very much like the processes which we have witnessed usually in western democratic countries, show that there comes a time when religion doesn’t play an essential role in terms of the development of social life. There’s something else at play here: religion, the presence of religious societies, provides the opportunity for some specific developments, because from these types of civil movements, civil acts of disobedience, and in the outcome of being rebellious, forces can always be found which might reap the results themselves. This threat is always there. But as to how society can organize itself and not allow such extremist forces to seize control from out of their hands is always an issue for the initiators of such movements, and for those who feel responsible initiating all these developments in public life,” said the art critic.
Photo: artist, art curator Ruben Arevshatyan (left) and Nazaret Karoyan (right)
Karoyan noted that during such social developments, being a leader in advance comes from the depths of history when only one leader was recognized, but now, according to him, leaders are self-manifested and emerge during civil protests.
“Leaders don’t appear and say they’re leaders: they come into being as a result of revolt, a movement, and naturally, I’m sure, leaders will emerge in this Egyptian struggle who will assume this responsible role, to coordinate these movements. The same also refers to us: new movements, new processes, and outrage developed through the self-organization of new means will bring about new leaders from among them. The whole problem lies in how the public will be able to take on the initiative itself and not wait for a time for what the leader will say,” he said.