“Zhoghovurd” suggests that visits by various officials to the Armenian communities situated near the restive border with Azerbaijan and exposed to cross-border fire on a daily basis are not enough to solve the problems of their residents. “With concerned faces for cameras these politicians appear in the news together with the villagers and with that they consider their duty done. After returning to Yerevan they forget about their promises. But even if local officials contributed some five percent of their incomes for the vital needs of the communities, a much-needed protective wall would have been built long ago.”
“Aravot” argues that the protracted public discussions of the proposed constitutional reform become increasingly ‘boring’. It cites the example of Thursday’s event in the provincial town of Yeghegnadzor. “Some of the local officials who attended the discussion fell asleep during the presentation of the concept of constitutional changes. And they slept through the entire discussion,” the paper’s editor observes.
“Zhamanak” reports about the plans of the Dutch government to deport illegal Armenian immigrants back to Armenia. The publication suggests that a tougher stance of European governments on illegal immigrants may mean that “thousands of people who are used to living off illegally obtained means could be returning to Armenia.” “It is difficult to say whether their return will be good or bad for Armenia as by living in Europe these people also discredit Armenia and Armenians, creating a bad image for the country and its people.”
(Nane Sahakian)