“Divide et impera” (Latin: divide and conquer) is an ancient strategy. So is bribe and conquer…
Echannel reports, that Arthur Baghdasaryan, the chairman of Country of Law (Orinats Yerkir), and Serzh Sargsyan, the prime minister, have signed an agreement for collaboration. The rumour is, that Arthur Baghdasaryan will be appointed in the position of Security Council secretary of Armenia, as soon as Serzh Sargsyan takes up the obligations of the president of Armenia.
Meanwhile, the opposition protests in front of the Opera house, in the Liberty square, continue. I went there this morning – at around 10:30, and there were mostly the people who spent the night in the tents. The rest of the crowd were just starting to gather. One thing I noticed, is the number of people reading newspapers and the information stand, put up in the corner of the road leading to the Northern Avenue. There you could find copies of “Haykakan Zhamanak” pro-opposition newspaper, printouts of stories from various information websites. At the first glance it appeared, that by posting information from these, often biased sources, the opposition are trying to cheer up their supporters, as well try to counterbalance the highly negative coverage, that government censored television (which means – nearly all TV channels) in Armenia are broadcasting.
 |
 |
 |
 |
PS: Also check out my YouTube Channel for latest videos.
It’s also known by another name…
Politics.
Does Levon feel really stupid now? Looks like he just missed the train.
There is another saying; Shit comes up on the surface of water. I think this one is more suitable for this case.
There was no divide as Artur wasnt part of the united opposition. He was playing his own agenda from the time when he resigned as a parliament speaker. He has higher hopes and sold himself to the highest and the only bidder.
Onnik – good point.
HaikN – I think Artur sold himself for a very cheap price.
This is good. The field is clear now. This will unite the opposition participants. This is a sign that in Armenia now everything is for auction and can be sold and bought.
Market economy ha? People now will understand who is who, and what they really need to do.
What does this mean for his supporters, the people who voted for him? Presumably they voted for him because they don’t like Serge but now he’s in bed with Serge. If the vote was tomorrow how many would vote for Levon now because he’s the only real opposition at this point or had they mostly voted for Artur because they liked him and would continue to even though it’s now clear he’s been on the government’s side all along. Well I mean it’s hard to know that for sure, but the speculation I’ve been reading on the blogs now is that he was in their pocket all along. This move does look very suspicious after all.
Also goodorbad, Levon has no reason to feel stupid over this. Do you really think he would have been welcomed with open arms into the coalition government? He just led a 9-day rally demonizing Serge and suddenly now they’re going to say “let’s forget the bad times, here you can be parliament speaker now”? I’m sure this offer to the opposition was made since they knew Levon couldn’t take it so they wouldn’t have to worry about this promise being extended to “the opposition” without excluding anyone. Anyone who says “oh that Levon, look he could have had the chance to be in the government and now he missed the train!” doesn’t know the first thing about politics. Dare I suggest if Levon actually had gone into the government and got a position there might be another 1999 event? Whatever the case he wouldn’t be in office for long for one reason or another, just long enough to sufficiently demoralize his supporters who just protested over a week only to have their leader jump ship. At that point when something unfortunate befell Levon and he ended up behind bars or worse I doubt any of them would care enough to protest as he would have betrayed them by joining Serge just as Serge betrayed them with this vote.
Well, I think this is Armenian politicians in general. Actually, politicians in general everywhere, but especially here in Armenia. All have a history of switching allegiences when the wind blows or a better offer comes up.
Baghdasarian is an interesting case study, though. He entered parliament as an MP for HHSh and was used by Levon to cover up the 1996 falsification on his TV show. Now he’s being used by the incumbent authorities although who can blame him? I mean, he’s ambitious and politics is a dirty game.
Kind of ironic, however, that Baghdasarian played the same game for Levon when it suited him and now he has determined that Serge is the winning side. Meanwhile, others such as Jahangirian have decided Levon is, or maybe they simply can’t gain enough under Serge. For sure, he neither decided who to support on moral principles.
Then again, given how many accusations were made against him by his former mentor, if I were Baghdasarian I’d hardly want to join forces with the side that spent most of the time dirtying my name. Still, a number of people have said that Baghdasarian is still young, and one suppose he sees his future based on working in the system rather than outside.
Like I said, all of this is politics for both sides and I doubt that there are very few among the higher ranks of both who are thinking about what is right. It’s a struggle for power, that’s all. Of course, nobody knows which side is winning, but it is interesting. When “rats” known for torture and human rights abuses such as Jahangirian join Levon they become “heroes.”
When “rats” such as Baghdasarian choose another side, they become “traitors.” In reality, however, politics is dirty and it’s always been and will always be so. Someone accused me of being a perfectionist on this blog recently, but I say that anyone who thinks this battle is some honorable battle between those in power with those who used to be is clearly mistaken.
Ultimately, it’s about power, wealth, the redistribution of property, influence and everything else. The “democratic” aspects of the “revolution.” are just the means to an end. Both sides are no doubt “negotiating” with everyone — that is making behind the doors deals and offering positions and so on.
Like I said, it’s politics.
Hard to say because I know Orinats Yerkir AND Heritage supporters who hate Serge, but they hate Levon even more. Of course, there are those for who it’s the other way round too.
woohoo,best supporting actor is indeed Arthur. he’s back to where he wanted,to the stage but i don’t know what role the script will give him. i doubt about prime minister or his old job,speaker of parliament. this is indeed good.
Arthur 3 weeks ago announced that he has life threat from authorities.
Being again in coalition with the same forces that he used to be and left later, is a proof that he really had life threat.
Look the video at echannel.com, you will see how feared Arthur is and how ignorant and self-sure Serge is.
It is my opinion, what you think?
I think this is a victory for LTP movement. He gained new supporters.
three victories in three days.
1. Serj Sargsian rally in Yerevan
2. Artur joins Serj
3. the OSCE USA mission report published today. you can read it at:
http://osce.usmission.gov/archive/2008/02/Armenia_elections_02-28-08.pdf
and in a way a 4th one: the shaken appearance of Kocharing in Haylur.
I give the SS and RK regime max 2 weeks.
HaikN – I wonder if any of the 3 victories you mention above in fact are victories at all for LTP.
1) Serj rally in Yerevan achieved some purposes for Serj, mostly in terms of PR, and a show of control.
2) As stated above, this is politics, and nothing surprising in this. In fact, I think it resembles what goes on in more mature democracies, and we should all welcome dissenting voices working within government as well as those outside.
3) I read the report, which is largely favorable reflection on the elections in terms of endorsing the OSCE opinion that the elections were an improvement.
Victory for Levon?? Haik, Hayk, and HaikN are free to interpret events how they like, but I for one fail to see the logic in your causality arguments.
i don’t know about you guys but I think that picture with him drinking champaign with Serge only a few days after he was yelling off of his lungs against Serge, tells a thousand words!
Kodak moment of the year! hehe
That was indeed a pitiful display and I was there when he made that accusation at a rally. Personally speaking, it disgusted me and was a cheap trick to improve his ratings before an election. It’s also interesting. Making false accusations and reporting something that didn’t actually happen is presumably a crime in itself so I actually think he should be prosecuted for it.
There was something really ominous about the champaigne picture. I don’t know what it is exactly, but something really scary/ominous about it.
AH,
if you believe that forcing people into buses and driving them away from their homes to Yerevan is show of power and is a good thing than probably you would justify the Young Turks sending my family members to Syrian deserts.
It is the same concept.
I have nothing more to say. you are a lunatic.
I think the problem with politics is that almost everyone succumbs to lunacy and extremism. It’s why I’ll never support a political party here or in the U.K. It’s always arrogance and self-interest whoever’s side you belong. Politics is dirty. Always has been. Always will be. Wherever you are.
I think the problem with politics is that almost everyone succumbs to lunacy and extremism. It’s why I’ll never support a political party here or in the U.K. It’s always arrogance and self-interest whoever’s side you belong. Politics is dirty. Always has been. Always will be. Wherever you are.
You know, this is ridiculous.
Some people say that this is politics and the move of Artur is justifies.
The oher one says that OSCE US report has nothing dangarous in it, and it states that elections were democratic.
To say all this you have to be out of your mind or very short in analysis.
In Armenia, when political accusation go to peronal level, when Artur announced that authorities warned hi to kill, that the he thinks 2 people are the woners of this country and he is going to fight for that, he also stated the elections were falsified, in 2007 Kocharian told Arthur is traitor, and so on. After all this what kind of politics are you talking about. These are to personal and serious accusations, and after this if Artur goes to join Serge, it is not politics, it is a sign of cowardness.
Secondly, the OSCE US statement is very bad, and the US clearly states that Armenian nation has to decide what to do with unfair elections.
Armenian people will decide in a week. Those who think everything is over, they are illusioned.
See what is going to happen, and all Serge supporters and JAILAMS will be very surprised
I know politics isn’t as mature in Armenia as it is in America (where of course it’s still dirty), but I just can’t imagine one week claiming the government is out to kill you and rallying people to oppose them and the next week you’ve signed up for a nice job with them being pictured sharing champagne. I think that’s what is so scary about the picture. It’s just an obvious piece of propaganda- I mean when have you ever seen a picture of two Armenian political figures sharing a drink like that before? It was purposely set up so Serge can prove to the world LOOK HE’S MINE!! I don’t know if he’s being blackmailed, selling out, or coerced, but any way you look at it I’m totally not comfortable with it. I understand it’s Artur’s right to join with whomever he wants… but come on. This is like Gore being appointed to the Supreme Court by Bush or something- meanwhile in Armenia things are much more explosive and possibly menacing… I’m not comfortable with it at all.
Paul – I agree with you that much of what we see is disconcerting, and I don’t think anyone is “happy with it.” There is very little in the post-election situation in Armenia that should make any Armenian happy. It is all about power elites jockeying for position, horse-trading, and bartering for power.
Haik, no need to resort to Ittihadist name-calling. I simply noted that a large demonstration is a show of power – I did not endorse it, nor did I say it is a positive thing. Of course, maybe (like Levon) you admire Turks and Azeris, so maybe you didn’t use the Young Turk reference in a negative way. I shouldn’t be so presumptuous.
Re: Artur joining Serj, one other interesting observation: It may be argued that Levon himself pushed Artur into the government camp. For all the shock and horror that everyone feels about Artur’s pre-election anger at the authorities, let’s not forget that Levon “poisoned the well” with Artur with his traitor invective against Artur. And finally that Serj simply had something to offer Artur. Levon is offering dance lessons.
Speaking of hypocrisy, where are the shouts of traitorous behavior from Levon supporters against Lady Hakob, Jahangiryan or the leeches from the MFA who were happy to collect their mafia $ or their govt paychecks for 10 years, only to resign in protest of a “criminal regime” of which they were official representatives of? I think Levon supporters should be careful in playing a moral blame game. If there is one camp that is morally bankrupt, it is the demagogues leading the disenfranchised in the Opera.