Recently, a Round Table discussion took place at the “Hetq” offices regarding the current political state of affairs in Armenia and possible approaches to defuse the crisis. Seated at the table were singer/song writer Ruben Hakhverdyan; Ashot Khachatryan, Director of the “Haykakan Tzragrer” organization; Hayk Minasyan, a representative of the “Shen Union” and Edik Baghdasaryan, Chief Editor of “Hetq Online”.

We ask that our readers take part in the discussion and also tell us whom they would like to see as future Round Table participants.

E.B. - In the prevailing situation in Armenia today the society has little confidence in the authorities. What can be done to change this reality?

A.Kh. - After the 1988 presidential elections I correctly predicted that something like this would happen in the coming 10-15 years, that elections would take place amidst gross violations and that the country would fall into the hands of a brainless criminal, etc. Today, I have no insights for the future. But I know what must be done. We have to live according to the law and principles and we must understand that this isn’t a process of just a few months. It has taken hundreds, if not thousands of years, for all people to build their nations, through the creation of certain institutions. Many countries have even lived though many years of civil war. There is no country on earth that has had an easy time of building a state government.

R.H. - There are many nations that haven’t traveled the route of evolutionary development. For example, Japan directly leapt from feudalism to capitalism. What I wish to say is that in addition to the evolutionary process one cannot rule out the possibility of the revolutionary route. In my opinion, given the situation we find ourselves in, there is the necessity of civil disobedience. This is because the feudal structures are so deeply embedded in the country. The people, through their disobedience, must declare that they neither accept the current president nor the former one. What we want are new elections and a new president.

E.B. - It’s my belief that there are three presidents in Armenia as we speak - Serzh Sargsyan, who officially received 52.8% of the vote; Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who has declared that he won the election with 65% of the vote and Robert Kocharyan, who is firmly holding on to the presidency till April 9th. In any event, the situation will change after April 9th once Kocharyan leaves the scene. But we don’t know what Sargsyan will do. In your view what will take place once he leaves?

R.H. - I’ve heard that the ARF-D has presented Sargsyan with a number of blunt conditions. I say this not as a supporter of that party. Naturally, I oppose the decision of the ARF-D to enter the government coalition.

H.M. - There is one thought on everyone’s mind - new Parliamentary Elections. They’ve created a coalition that has 125 seats in the Parliament. Let them call for new elections, what are they so afraid of? All the political parties in the coalition state that they are for free and fair elections, including the ARF-D. They now find themselves in a coalition where they have the opportunity to monitor the actions of the others. Everything would be settled if a one-stage process of free elections could take place.

E.B. - I would think that if special parliamentary elections were declared they would have to take place one year from now. All sides would be able to use the time to prepare for the campaign, etc. The opposition will not be able to get its act together in a shorter period of time. On the other hand, Serzh Sargsyan would be given ample time to take steps in order to garner the confidence of the people. Also, he’d become the person responsible to guarantee free elections. In the end, if they are concerned about the government, they have to take certain steps to that end.

H.M. - I don’t agree. It’s vital that elections take place right now, today. And if they state that negotiations with Ter-Petrosyan must take place and that compromises be made, I believe that it must be concerning this issue alone.

A.Kh. - OK, let’s assume that they call for new elections. What happens next? Who can state for certain that there will be a change in the final result? Mechanisms must be put into place. For example, the institution of the ombudsman was enacted and, as it turned out, this was a lever to be used, a mechanism. I believe that an “electoral committee” must be created in the country, made up of around 50 individuals who are above any suspicion of being corrupted or temptation of being so inclined. If we were able to create such a committee or body to oversee the work of the Electoral Commission the situation would be different. Today, such an institution doesn’t exist. Thus, any new elections would deliver the same result.

H.M. - Until Levon Ter-Petrosyan started to make some noise every one said that it’s clear that Sargsyan would be elected with 90% of the vote. The entire situation changed just by allowing public rallies to be held. Now, the coalition government must ensure that normal elections to take place. The coalition is the mechanism to make this happen. The four majority parties come out with a declaration that they will see to it that free and fair elections take place.

A.Kh. - The same situation now facing Armenia lasted for some 20-25 years in Ireland. Elections there would take place in even worse conditions than in Armenia. A political party was created that slowly grew stronger over time. Not in a period of a few months, like we would see to happen, but over the course of a few elections. This party grew so powerful over the course of consecutive elections that the authorities realized a clash would take place, as happened here. But it wasn’t clear who would emerge victorious. Thus, free elections took place and the new party won. This is the only known way to extricate oneself from such situations. In other words, the opposing party mustn't request that the coalition stand as the guarantor of free elections (that would be a joke); rather the opposition must present itself as such a powerful force that the authorities cannot continue on the path of fraudulent elections. Today, that opposing force doesn't exist here.

H.M. - So why are they banning public rallies if such a force doesn't exist? In actuality, such a strong force does exist. Maybe it's a negative force, I can't say. Whether it's good or bad, that's another issue. For as long as rallies are banned, it means that such a force exists. Let them allow rallies to be held, and then we'll see evidence of that force. Thus, the only normal way out is for new parliamentary elections to take place.

E.B. - OK, who is supposed to raise the issue of special parliamentary elections? Neither the coalition nor the new president will go down this route.

H.M. - The ARF-D can raise this issue and if their proposal is rejected they must withdraw from the coalition. In any event, the new coalition will not last long. It's clear that the other three parties will not take the route of compromise, but the ARF-D can force them to do so. In the recent presidential elections the ARF-D, represented by Vahan Hovhannisyan, garnered less than half the number of votes than in the 2007 parliamentary elections. The party now enjoys the unique opportunity to improve its rating and to organize clean elections for the first time in Armenia.

A.Kh. - During the past ten years the authorities were in a situation where they had the ability to transform themselves into a normal functioning political power. Their removal from the scene is a ten-minute ordeal. When Ter-Petrosyan came on the scene he attracted only at best half of the potential opposition out there as he was as unacceptable to many just as the authorities were. This is the reason way we've ended up where we are now. Had it been another political force, less discredited, developments would have transpired differently. On the other hand the public approval ratings of all four coalition parties has fallen to 2%. OK, to 5% if we include all their affiliated apparatus.  What elections are we talking about? Don't you think they are aware of this?

H.M. - Well, if the authorities don't agree to new elections it means we're done for and that the Armenian people must chose another path.

R.H. - In other words, what took place weren't just public meetings but the attempt at a popular uprising that the regime strangled in a pool of blood. What meetings? 50-100 people attend meetings at best. The reason is an unjust government, unjust laws and an officially sanctioned oligarchy. Today, we are a nation living in authoritarian conditions.

A.Kh. - After the war ended in 1945 both Germany and Japan were countries in absolute ruins, both economically and spiritually. They had been beaten and broken to the core. However, in the span of one generation they were able to transform themselves into the 2nd and 3rd global economic powers. The problem we face can be overcome. It is today's young generation that needs to understand this and act accordingly. This generation must realize that they are the true rulers of the nation. They must tackle the present challenges we face so that in 25-30 years we can reach a similar level as say Switzerland.

E.B. - I don't agree. The youth must be imbued with a rebellious spirit. If we fail to oppose the injustices of today what will we achieve thirty years onwards? My answer - the very same situation that we have today. Young people took to the streets but were beaten back into their homes. This will have disastrous consequences for the future. They can't simply be bullied about and beaten, for they'll simply leave the country. If some people don't like Levon Ter-Petrosyan that's fine, but it doesn't mean that those attending the rallies were criminals or drug addicts.

A.Kh. - I'm stating that we can reach the level of a category #1 country in the span of 30 years or so. Perhaps that must begin today - with rebellion, the formation of a new political force and a crash course in political science. We must get used to the idea that in order to reach one’s goal takes a lifelong systematic work approach. It is vital that the cornerstones in this effort be that of patience and professionalism. Even if you know that tomorrow might end in your destruction you still have to do what is needed today.

Discussion transcribed by Ararat Davtyan