Following Bekaisa’s post and a link left in the comments section by Kornelij to Day.Az report, I went to the more verifiable source about MIAK Party – their website to double check the information about the appointment of MIAK General Secretary Levon Martirosyan as the assistant to RA Prime-Minister Serge Sargsyan.
This is actually quite old news, which I had missed because of going to vacation. And I wouldn’t really be interested to cover it, if I didn’t remember the post made by Notes From Hairenik back in April entitled – New kids on the political block. Recounting his meeting with Levon and Davit from MIAK, Christian Garbis says:
They have “Western” style ways of thinking, which I cannot necessarily describe all too well but is obviously familiar to me, just by the way they express themselves openly and frankly rather than beat around the bush as most potential or supposed full-fledged Armenian politicians do. Basically I could not get much of an explanation as to what their specific agenda is as they do not really have one yet.
Well looks like they have one now – and the agenda looks strictly pro-government. It also seems to me (following the report about former “Orinats Yerkir”, young-careerist, political-renegade Samvel Farmanyan’s joining MIAK), that Serge Sargsyan has promised a number of important government posts to MIAK – enough to satisfy all of those in the party, plus the new-comers like Samvel.
I can’t say I like MIAK, or that I ever did, especially once I look at my former posts about the party. However, as Samvel Farmanyan told me after joining MIAK – there is a choice between sitting back, doing nothing and criticizing all and everyone, or joining a “real force and making a change”. It only remains to be seen whose well being that change will affect – right now I have the feeling, that MIAK are only after their own careers and well being, but perhaps we should do them justice and wait at least a little bit longer.
And how is MIAK going to compromise with Serzhik the key stone of their party policy-professional army? I am dissapointed in MIAK:(
I guess it was Samvel who I ran into at a MIAK/BAA party recently. Is he the guy who was in charge of media relations for Orinats Yerkir during the election? Anyway, interestingly, there was also some guy from Prosperous Armenia there, but I think that the fact that MIAK were the only non-governmental party that managed to get hold of prime advertising billboard space during the parliamentary election campaign says a lot.
However, what is interesting for me is what this means with regards to Armenchik’s and Armen Sarkisyan’s involvement with the party. People I know still allege that Armenchik is behind the party and that Sarkisyan is funding it from England. Of course, it has also been reported that Sarkisyan has lobbied on behalf of Serzh’s presidential bid in Europe. Another interesting question is does this mean that MIAK will split again? It’s members are generally educated young professionals, and while I can understand that some are very ambitious, I wonder if such close effective ties with the Republican Party will give some of them pause for thought?
Still, maybe the new generation of reforms that they want introduced will be the cornerstone of a Serzh presidency and Republican-dominated National Assembly? Well, actually, I suppose international donors will determine what reforms are introduced and which are not, but you get what I mean. Yes, I”m maybe being naive, but is there a possibility that some political and democratic evolution is happening in Armenia? Certainly, I don’t see it existing among the opposition who still can’t talk of anything apart from who should be the one to lead them with all the predictability of various party leaders thinking it should be them.
Incidentally, now I want to play devil’s advocate although it’s something I often think about, putting myself in the shoes of your average Armenian voter. That is, there is economic growth, there was some improvement in the conduct of the parliamentary election although it was not democratic, but was certainly better if more stage-managed than before (this is another discussion, though), and people can’t see any alternative in the opposition.
In such a situation, maybe Serzh is the only choice for the presidential election especially when you consider that the parliament is dominated by the Republican party and most of Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy is actually determined outside of the country anyway in the form of international obligations, CE membership and geopolitical realities. I look at the candidates we know that are on offer and I can’t see anyone that I would want to vote for instead of Serzh. Probably, I’d not vote at all.
I’m starting to hear some people take the idea of LTP returning more seriously — and we’ll apparently hear about his intention to run towards the end of this month — but I also wonder if this wouldn’t simply mark a continuation of what we have already. I just don’t see things changing with him at the helm, perhaps with the exception of foreign policy. Otherwise, almost everything here is decided by the World Bank, IMF and other structures.
I don’t know. If I were an Armenian voter I’d be confused and probably depressed. I wouldn’t know who to vote for, and even if I wanted to stop Serzh from becoming president I wouldn’t necessarily want to vote for any of the other possibilities. At the same time, I did welcome his National Security doctrine, and assuming that his words were genuine, his take on Armenia’s place in the region. Actually, probably it is this last aspect that will determine Western backing for a candidate during the election, but I don’t see that the opposition offer anything that would entice themselves over Serzh.
Maybe Levon, but actually, are Serzh and Levon not dissimilar in their positions on relations with Turkey and resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Kind of ironic, in a way, but that’s how I see the situation. Unless someone can really offer a credible alternative and actually mean it, perhaps evolution will occur under Serzh while the alternatives are not only unclear, but also don’t give me grounds to think that anything will change with them in the presidential palace.
Here I’m asking for opinions on the matter, because as I said, I’m totally confused, and if I am, I bet the electorate will be early next year, although it has to be said, the PR machine behind Serzh is doing a really good job at present. He’s everywhere at the moment — handing out awards, opening this, opening that, getting support from many people in many areas. Compared to a year ago, it’s a very different image that Serzh is managing to portray.
And I am very impressed with MIAK. I have a constant feeling that they are always doing something – it’s a new party, but already very well known. In a short period of time they managed to effectively “come to power” and I am sure they will work hard in the government everyday. I don’t think they changed their ideas or compromised them, I think MIAK people are too Westernized for that. It also seems to me Serzh is doing a good job of bringing new blood to his inner circle, I hope that’s the start of great changes in Armenia.
For me MIAK’s nature is not very clear, I mean what kind of structure is it after all? I know many people who love, respect or hate MIAK which means, I agree with previous comment, that unlike many other parties MIAK is at least doing something.
What I am confused with in Onnik’s comment is his opinion that MIAK is being supported by Armenchik, Armen Sarkissian and Serzh all at the same time – it sounds like this is some kind of a global conspiracy ahead of 2008 presidential elections, doesn’t it? If that’s true, then we have to pay tribute to MIAK and Levon Martirosyan – he should be a very clever guy and a good politician to put himself in the middle of such a circle. If anyone knows more on this issue, please comment.
Well, Manuk, this is what I don’t get, and you’re right these are accusations made by those who don’t like MIAK it’s true. When I asked Levon about these links he denied them. However, the Serzh link has to make you think given the reports of Armen Sarkisyan supporting a Serzh presidency a year or so (it was in some local newspaper which to be fair, probably doesn’t mean much).
However, those members who split from MIAK when it went political maintain Armenchik is one of those behind them, which is worth pondering given other people suggesting Kocharian and Serzh might not necessarily see eye to eye. In fact, if true, does it effectively discredit that? I don’t know all rumors which is why I raised them so people could comment on them.
Well, Onnik, you know as I said all the information about this party is extremely messy and controversial. There certainly can be rumours and desinformation about anyone, but if someone knows some real stuff about MIAK that would help a lot. Otherwise, either everything said about MIAK is not true or they are a bunch of genial people capable of manipulating such prominent people as Armenchik, Armen Sarkissian and Serzh Sarkissian. I am really waiting for someone’s comment who is very familiar with real stuff at MIAK.
Actually, I have to be honest and say that I wanted to ask Levon about all of this, but was too ill to go to the BAA/MIAK bash last Friday. Actually, I’d personally like to do a photo reportage on Serzh’s trip to the regions 🙂
And Levon’s too.
(BTW: In this context and when referring to the foreign policy of Serzh and Levon I mean LTP not Levon Martirosian).
Hey everybody! Although I live in Germany but I am quite well aware of Armenian politics and consider myself a fan of MIAK party.
Please let us be honest after all, MIAK made a change in Armenian politics already. I know Levon, Ara, David, Irina and some other people from MIAK – they are really a new generation, a new wave and a new hope, if not the only hope for Armenia!
Once I was at a MIAK party: one can definitely feel the “wind of change” there – I did feel. I am sure these guys really want to make change and all those in our society that talk of necessity for change should be happy that some people organised themselves and are committed to personally contribute to what others (like me for example) only talk or dream about. Why not at least support them morally, I don’t think it’s easy for a person like Levon Martirosyan to deal with people like Muk, Dodi Gago, Qor Ando or others alike, but he went into this and God Bless Him really. Ekeq ognenq