‘Civic Activism Is the Most Important Factor for Democracy,’ Says ARF Armenia
YEREVAN—As protests, demonstrations and other civil disobedience acts against former president Serzh Sarkisian’s election as Armenia’s prime minister continued into its seventh day across Yerevan and other cities in Armenia, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia issued the following announcement :
The protests, rallies, and demonstrations, which have been taking place in our country over the past few days are evidence of the public’s demand for systemic changes and for qualitative and real reforms.
Civic activism is the most important factor for the country’s development and its democracy. However, confrontation can lead to a deadlock and can split our nation-wide potential. We all face the call to find solutions to the current situation—one in which both the citizen of Armenia and the country itself will ultimately benefit.
In this regard, first and foremost, the authorities, political forces, and politicians have much to do. We all have the obligation to form a collective political agenda; to take state-building to a new and heightened level; to realize a united political system of authority-opposition; to build citizen’s confidence in the state and in the future; and to ensure that participatory democracy is implemented in the country.
Based on this conviction, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia calls on all the political forces represented in the parliament—under the auspices of the Republic’s newly-elected President, the guarantor of the state and the constitution—to create a platform for political dialogue, in order to find common solutions to the existing problems and to resolve the current situation in the country.
Civic Activism is what I’ve expected from the Dashnakstutyun for several years now. Instead, the organization that I always believed in and who’s family was a member of for generations, has become the puppet of Serzh Sarkisyan and the Oligarchs that have created an authoritarian state.
Congratulations, you voted for and supported Sarkisyan, you helped the Hanrapetakan Party create the situation that now exists in Armenia. Now you are asking for a political dialogue. What hypocrisy!
Actions speak louder than words
The actions of the ARF, by supporting the election of Serge Sarkisian as the new Prime Minister of Armenia , speaks volumes about the stance of the ARF since it became a coalition partner when Mr . Sarkisian was the President for two terms and led the country into greater poverty, corruption & the migration out of Armenian of thousands of its citizens due to the lack of faith in the future of their country
The ARF has gained a couple of minister posts in the former govt of Armenia led by Mr. Sarkisian, while the people of Armenia have not found any movement forward for the improvement of their daily lives.
Perhaps the ARF hopes to maintain &increase the number of its members in getting jobs as ministers in the new govt headed by Mr. Sarkisian . This is not in the interest of the needs of the people of Armenia. It is only in the political interests of the ARF
Perhaps the ARF can consider developing a new group of leaders from the ranks of the young people out on the streets of Yerevan who are now protesting the decision of the Parliament to allow Mr. Sarkisian another opportunity to be in charge of the government despite his dismisal track record as the former President of Armenia
ARF in Armenia is just as responsible as the government for the present situation in Armenia. They did the decent thing and resigned when the protocols were signed. One look at the army, courts, emigration, injustice, corruption and so on it says it all. Despite all these they are still in the coalition .As a lifelong ARF sympathiser feel that they should do the honourable thing and leave the coalition.
Ayo, spiurkahay, 28 dari g’abrem MER YERGIR, ge hamagrem i chah mer hayrenikin hichelov mer hianalik HERAPOKHAGAN badmoutian
ՄԻԱՑԵՔ, ՀԱՅՐԵՆԻՔԻ ԶԱՎԱԿՆԵՐ,
ՊԱՅՔԱՐԻ ԺԱՄԸ ԵԿԵԼ Է,
ՄԵՐ ԴԻՄԱՑ ԿԱՆԳՆԱԾ Է ԲՌՆԱԿԱԼԸ,
ՍԱԿԱՅՆ ՆՐԱ ԺԱՄԵՐԸ ՀԱՇՎԱԾ ԵՆ:
ARF is a great disappointment. it sold out our country. I hope this causes a rift in the ARF structure between sane clubs and the insane HQ.