Some more slide shows are in progress, for example one wil be related to the SS’s secret life in Casinos.
And some other fun stuff to make the ellections more interesting.

Regards,

H

HAving said this, I would like to say WHAT everyone sees but due to political affiliations and bias no one actually states openly.

The thing is that whether or not we like the candidates we can’t have see that both candidates are now leading very interesting and dynamic campaigns. And it’s very good I think that Armenia got such a tough and unforeseable presidential election.

I think this is partly thanks to the work done by those young people present in both camps in quite a big numbers nowadays. Some of them obviously have key positions in terms of decision-making in Serzh’s and Levon’s headquarters respectively. This is especially true and more visible about Serzh’s camp probably because the young guys there control more resources than those in LTP’s camp. However the pro-LTP youths are doing a great work anyway and as an Armenian citizen I really appreciate their creativity and commitment. It remains to be seen how long they can keep working hard and be creative.

And another observation – I have the feeling that none of the young people in either camp really feels ideologically attached to their candidates. I am sure all these miaks, sksela, alternative etc are ideologically much closer to each other rather than to who they now support. I have friends in sksela and miak. A friend of mine who’s a staunch member of MIAK told me recently that the atmosphere in the party is such that if they supported LTP the latter would have already committed a revolution. When I asked why they didn’t support LTP he said because LTP failed to negotiate a deal with them whereas Serzh’s camp was very quick and clever to do so. This might mean of course that MIAK might have had some links to Alternative before because at that point they were open to offers, though in terms of social status and origin of their members these 2 groups seem to be quite different.

A final word about the websites – I like both sites (LTP’s and Serzh’s) and I think it’s good that they are exposing themselves to the public as much as possible to get votes, please let us encourage this and not hamper.

Aram

As for Sksela, I think the true picture will be seen. It has been increasingly hijacked for politically-partisan purposes which is why those truly independent and liberal youth activists I know are not part of it. That’s my opinion, and you have yours of course, but I think it is a necessary ingredient for Ter-Petrosian’s recipe.

Regarding everything else, I have the same concerns although for now we haven’t had any serious clashes. Still, I suspect all shit will hit the fan eventually, especially after the election. However, like Observer, I want to see a more democratic election. Then, it doesn’t matter who wins although I think people can still be happy or sad about the choice.

The matter is that people accept it, move on, and struggle for more democracy and freedom to make the election and the choices on offer better. For me, that’s what democratization is. Anyway, for now at least, the presidential election appears a marked improvement over 2003, but let’s see.

Whoever wins, let them do so with the majority support and let them understand that this time they are accountable for their time in power. At the end of the day this is all that matters.

As to Levon – like I’ve written before – I have really mixed feeling. For me – he is a villian, the white wizard Saaruman from the Lord of the Rings, who went so high up into his white tower of Isengard, that was lost in his arrogance and became worse then Saauron – the Dark Lord. I know his coming was positive this time – because he brought an appearance of political struggle, but I don’t see him as an alternative, as an “aylyntranq”. And I still have suspicions, that he was brought there to legitimize Serzh’s coming. I would understand much better, if Levon came as a background supporter for Vazgen, or Raffi, or someone else…

I don’t know – I’m really frankly lost and disappointed by recent developments in politics. And all I want to do now is to at least try to observe everything from a balanced standpoint. And I want to see this country have a democratically elected president. After all – if tomorrow people elect Serzh, Levon or Tigran Karapetovich – and if my more or less balanced observation allows me to say, that it was an indeed democratic election, I will be happy to welcome whoever the president is.

Gazan2008 – is exaggerating things. I said I have similar feelings – that does not mean I think that way. I just feel I’m sorry, that Levon came, and as a result there is this understanding outside, that “sksela”, “aylyntranq”, etc. were just a puppet brought there to serve Levon’s purposes. I know this is not the case – because I am part of “sksela” – and I see the real picture from inside, so I can assure, that “sksela” is still a very healthy civil movement and I want to compliment outstanding “sksela” people like Isabella, for not imposing any political views on the movement and not trying to drag it into Levon side, despite her being immediately involved in Levon campaign.

However, what Gazan2008 is saying (and by the way, I have suspicions, that whoever that blogger is, he/she is being paid by KGB to write what he/she is writing), is how many people perceive “sksela”. I know, that some of young people I’ve been trying to bring into that movement are avoiding it especially because they think it is a Levon Puppet. Once again – I know this is not the case, but I also know there is this common feeling, that Levon’s coming broke that movement, and broke “aylyntranq” as well. And I share in this feeling.

when I was attending the BAA/MIAK parties in the month and a half before the election

when I was attending the BAA/MIAK parties in the month and a half before the PARLIAMENTARY election

MIAK guys negotiated with Aylyntranq

Does anyone have any confirmation of this. For sure, when I was attending the BAA/MIAK parties in the month and a half before the election, this is not the impression I got. Indeed, others now aligned with Ter-Petrosian alleged even then that they were supporting Serge.

Those that I still keep in touch with and talk with about the election in the past few months — well, since Levon returned — most definitely don’t like Ter-Petrossian and were thinking about who to support. Later in the year, this became more solid — it was Serge, although some said they did so because they saw no alternative.

I’d like more information on this accusation and it will be interesting to hear MIAK’s response. For sure, as MIAK was heavily discussed before the election and many of those now with Levon were constantly accusing it of working with Serge, I find the accusation hard to believe.

I’d also like to see more information about this alleged negotiation — names, dates, etc. It’s standard journalist practice to try to work out if the allegation is genuine or made up in an attempt to discredit the fact that there are education, young professionals who choose Serge over Levon.

And yes, there are those educated, young professionals who choose Levon over Serge. Interestingly, though, I’m told some students are more and more looking to Artur Baghdasarian, but for now, I think it’s fair to say that nobody has mainstream support in Armenia for this election.

Instead, there might be someone supporting Serge, another supporting Levon, and someone else supporting another candidate. Demographically they might be very similar. That’s could democracy. That’s called a diverse society with a multitude of opinions.

For sure, it is wrong to frame this presidential election as being one of highly popular Serge against hated Levon, or highly popular Levon against hated Serge. Or indeed, what about the other candidates? What we have instead is a highly polarized battle between two sides with the majority of Armenians stuck in between.

For now, at least. We’re barely a week into the pre-election campaign so why would it be any different?

perhaps it is not so visible for an outsider, but believe me, LTP’s team is really a decentralised, liberal and democratic one. young people contribute so much with their ideas and initiatives and Levon’s experience and wisdom so perfectly match with those mindsets and ideas that the campaign expands and becomes more and more influential from day to day!

while, please, have a look at SS’s posters throughout Yerevan! one may wonder whether Serzh’s PR guys really support LTP! :)

I also agree with your point about young people… but vice versa. Please comment about Levon Martirosyan and some others (don’t want to mention names) who support SS. While MIAK guys negotiated with Aylyntranq to make a bloc before Parliamentary election in May 2007, and now they support SS: can you explain this?!

While those guys supporting Levon were always FOR the ideas promoted by him. Moreover, there is no focus on the personality per se, because we all declared that we would equally support VM, RH or another who joins forces.

Anyway, I believe there is nothing wrong in caricatures and humour. And it is funny to look at Levonator as well as Serzhadevil! Why not?! Don’t we want smth like a freedom of speech in our country?! ;)

The point is – let’s talk about real stuff, politics, issues, not some stupid photos. I was planning a series of posts – analysis of various candidates’ programs, but now I really don’t think it is worth my efforts.

As to Gazan2008′s opinion – it is so very close to what I feel about those brilliant young people joining Levon’s camp, that I can’t neglect it.

I guess you have to be immersed in the Western culture to really appreciate humor like that. To call it “with appalling negligence of all ethical norms and morality” is not a truthful way of describing it.