Valerie-Ashkhen Gordzounian, the diaspora Armenian who was recently forced to close her Café de Paris in Yerevan due to pressures brought to bear by the tax authorities, sat down with Hetq to answer a few questions. She has since left Armenia on a temporary basis.

You ran a business in Armenia for a number of years and are acutely aware of government policies and the general situation prevailing in the country. Do you believe that poverty can be reduced, the economy developed and emigration halted if such a state of affairs continues?

No, because the economic sector isn’t cleanly regulated. First off, anyone who invests in Armenia is hit with very hefty taxes for such a small country and competition doesn’t exist. It’s expensive to get goods cleared through customs and raw materials are costly. The government is doing nothing to improve these conditions. The government must launch a credit policy because everything is so expensive and the currency isn’t stable. This is why emigration continues.

When young people see that they get nowhere after graduating, that the government is doing little to assist them so that they can get a foothold in the economic sector, naturally, they will leave. The border opening with Turkey hasn’t been resolved, issues related to army service remain, bribery persists – these all lead to mistrust in the government. The people will decide to pack up and leave. This is a real danger and concerns me greatly. I do not list all the problems because the problem of social stability has, in my opinion, already reached terrible proportions.

So what is necessary to change things as quickly as possible?

First off, we need fair elections and a legitimate government. Later on, with such a base, perhaps the International Monetary Fund will assist us again. Everything must be changed. The tax and legal systems must be just and there must be free competition so that we can attract outside investment and in order for the people to want to stay in the motherland. It would seem to me that a legitimate government can instill a degree of hope in the people.

In two days, parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia. Have you been following political developments from afar? What are your thoughts?

As regards to following the political situation, let me state that only those who have truly remained Armenian are following what is taking place. Here in France, everyone is following the upcoming second round of the presidential elections to take place on May 6, the same day as elections in Armenia. Those in my circle who are following the election campaign in Armenia, sadly, do not really believe that things will change for the better. We follow the news from all the outlets and are shocked to hear about the bribes, the money, the jams and cell phones being handed out to people. Our European friends are doubly shocked. It’s very interesting to compare the election campaigns in France and Armenia.

Do you believe it is possible to change the political situation and the regime in Armenia via elections only? Are other mechanisms needed for such systematic change?

I believe that these elections are the last opportunity for changing the reality in Armenia. If the three political forces – Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and the ARF – can get their act together and guarantee free and fair elections, then the outcome will be a positive one. If not, it is clear that things will get worse. But we need to ask ourselves, isn’t the public also to blame in all this?

You are now living in Europe. Don’t they try to buy votes for 5,000 or 10,000 AMD her as well?

Are you serious? If anything like that was attempted in Europe, especially France, there would be an immediate revolution. Bribery exists here but those involved are brought up on charges, even at the highest levels of government. Even former French President Jacques Chirac is being tried in court for past irregularities. Thus, your question makes me laugh.

What must be done to get rid of this tainted practice of vote buying in Armenia?

The people must develop to the point where they understand that they just can’t sell their future for 5,000 AMD. Only then will vote buying be dealt with for good.

You know, perhaps young people will one day understand this. As a person who loves my country, this issue pains me greatly. I would like to hope that the people this time will not sell their futures for 5,000 AMD. I urge and beseech our people to make the right election choice despite the difficult conditions. Let us make Armenia’s National Assembly truly democratic.

During your years of running a business in Armenia you had to deal with a variety of government officials and functionaries. Based on what you know, do you believe their promises that the May 6 elections will correspond to international standards of a free and democratic ballot?

If we are talking about the authorities in charge today, then I’d say no, no and no. They are only lying or preventing normal democratic elections from taking place. However, there are intelligent, educated and cultured people in Armenia and they are my source of hope.

You know, I really want to see all this change quickly.