There is not going to be a new candidate in the 2008 presidential elections.  That much is clear.  There are also not going to be any new ideas from the same old people.  That is clear too.  If it were not for the realization that this is an important period in the history of Armenia, the 2008 presidential elections would not differ at all from the 2007 parliamentary elections.

But what makes this election important, or what was not important about the elections in 1998 or 2003?  The elections in 2003 were after Kocharyan's first term and it was clear that he would do everything to avail of his right to one more term, and his team did everything to assure his continuation in power.  The elections in 1998 were important - the former President of Karabakh was assuming responsibility for the future of Armenia and Karabakh, rejecting propositions made by the first President of the Republic.

Ten years have passed.  It is time for evaluation.  One question needs to be answered - "What was Armenia's position in 1998 and what is it now?"  This refers equally to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, relations with neighbors, the country's international reputation, and to prospects for economic development.
The authorities will do all they can to avoid answering this question as they prepare for self-replication.  This is because the answers to that question will not help their cause for "free and fair" elections.

Who can force the current authorities to answer this question and demonstrate the political bankruptcy which has marked the past decade?

Instead of talking about each politician one by one, allow me to say that the average opposition activist has not raised this question over the past ten years, and if they ask this now it can be seen as trying to gain political advantage.  Besides this, the average opposition activist does not have his own stance with which to answer this question.  A stance is crucial - the resolution of the Karabakh issue and Armenian-Turkish relations are not small change or coins with which to pull a few magic tricks.

Who will ask this question to the authorities and expect to hear a report and who will compose a unique approach to this issue?  It is difficult, or perhaps too early, to say.  But one thing is clear - without this approach we will lose yet another opportunity to rectify the current situation.