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Press Review


Answering the question what elections will bring to Armenia, “Hayots Ashkhar” writes: “Today’s Armenia continues to remain a country of an unconscious political choice. Its citizens respond to names and not to platforms.”

Relaying the concern of the British Economist that “parliamentary elections in May 2007 could be highly flawed, tipping the country into an outright authoritarian regime,” “Aravot” editorializes: “The mentioned elections cannot but pass without serious shortcomings at least for the reason that a majority of voters do not tend to make a political choice”. According to the paper, only “benefactors” can win public favors and it is encouraged by official propaganda, according to which ‘political programs are an empty talk, and a sack of potato is something tangible.’

The same paper writes that a decline in interest towards political processes is observed in all the three countries of the South Caucasus. The studies conducted by the Caucasus Resources Research Center over the past two years show that citizens of Georgia trust their president most, then citizens of Azerbaijan, and then of Armenia. Members of parliament are trusted most in Armenia, and least in Azerbaijan.

Writing that since there are many candidates preferred by the power pyramid in the 2008 presidential elections and therefore this circumstance complicates the issue of the ‘most preferred’ for the current president Robert Kocharian, “Taregir” adds: “A scenario deserving the consent of the sides has been drawn at the presidential palace according to which all preferred candidate will run for the office in 2008.” The paper explains that first in this case Kocharian will not be perceived as a “bad person” as he will take the difficult task of supporting one of them off his shoulders. According to the paper, with this step an attempt will be made to oust other political forces and figures from the presidential race, in particular the opposition. As a result, “Taregir” predicts, we will again have a president not elected by people’s vote.

Under the headline “We will give you a bribe, and you become democratic” the “Hayk” newspaper writes: “Making sure that Armenian authorities in no way wish to turn Armenia into a democratic country, the West arrived at a genial conclusion: to implement its programs with oriental methods. However strange it may sound, but the matter concerns bribing. “Armenia is also among candidates for being bribed,” the paper writes, implying the EU new neighborhood program. “Let’s hope that the authorities will spend the sum due to our country with conscience, will distribute electoral bribes, seeds and fertilizers. And those they don’t reach will at least get some soda.”

(Atom Markarian)
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