GEORGIA-AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA
Which country will win in the presidential marathon?
2008 is a year of presidential elections for Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan simultaneously; therefore, whether or no we like it, we become the eyewitness and the participant of the specific contest among the three Caucasian countries striving for democratic elections and a legitimate President.
The elections held in Georgia on January 5 marked the beginning of this process. Armenia will clarify the name of its new President on February 19, and Azerbaijan will do so in autumn. Furthermore, it is already obvious that among the three South Caucasian states Armenia is the only country that is going to have a new President, since Mr. Sahakashvili was re-elected in Georgia and the likelihood of I. Aliev’s not being re-elected in Azerbaijan is not seriously discussed by anyone at all.
The following question comes up: which of the three countries has greater chances to hold free and fair elections and have a more legitimate president in such conditions?
Georgia: although the international community has formally recognized the results of the February 5 elections held in Georgia, the representatives of the European structures have, in contrast to the American officials expressing unconditional support to M. Sahakashvily, announced many a time that the January 5 voting was free but not fair.
This is a formulation which considerably yields to the assessments on the May 12 elections held in Armenia, as these elections were estimated as free and fair.
After his first speech delivered recently in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasburg, the newly elected President of Georgia received a clanking slope from Andreas Gross, a well-known Swiss parliamentarian-socialist. The latter was the first parliamentarian in the PACE conference hall to address the following clear-cut accusation to M. Sahakashvily on November 25, “You robbed the elections of a second stage.”
Even though the Georgian President pretended to be calm while answering this venomous accusatory question, it became obvious to everybody that the European structures questioned the legitimacy of his election. And this means that in the eyes of the West, the “regional leadership” the Georgian President is dreaming about is based on certain geopolitical functions which are still being carried out exclusively by him.
Azerbaijan: The United States, especially the European countries, do not expect the 2008 elections of Azerbaijan to produce any results either in terms of observing the elementary norms of democracy or holding a more or less serious rivalry.
And this fact is not concealed even by Matthew Bryza, the American Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, who believes that Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, has no candidates, i.e. more than one pretenders to the post of presidency. The maximum the European structures are trying to achieve in Azerbaijan is the release of all the journalists arrested during the recent years.
Armenia: The results of the elections held in Armenia in May 2007 are, for now, the best elections held in the South Caucasus during the past years. This, however, doesn’t mean that Armenia has already assumed the role of a regional leader.
Everyone is looking forward to the results of the elections to be held on February 19, 2008. And if we pass that test and hold civilized and legitimate elections this time as well, their results are sure to push Armenia to the front-line in the whole region. It doesn’t even make sense to think of the possibility of such electoral frauds as were observed in Georgia on January 5, when the figures recorded in the electoral precincts did not correspond to the results officially published by the Central Election Commission.
Such phenomena do not simply exist in our electoral practice. However, it is necessary to bear in mind Armenia is not Georgia in terms of its geopolitical preferences, so we will be required to meet demands of a much higher level. They may fail to notice the huge problems faced by Georgia, but they are certain to see our minor errors.
Nevertheless, we are convinced that any kind of wrongdoings that may be recorded during the upcoming elections cannot call the results of the February 19 voting into question.
Moreover, the whole problem does not consist in disputing the results of the voting, something all our presidential candidates are entitled to. They may recognize the results of the elections; they may also appeal against them, but they are obliged to use exclusively legal and constitutional methods.
In case of maintaining the post-electoral developments within the frameworks of democratic norms, our country will, in 2008, find itself on the front-line in the region, having already developed the culture of holding democratic elections.
- ARMEN TSATOURYAN
BRILLIANT FUTURE IN STORE FOR ARMENIA
GEVORG HAROUTYUNYAN
On the fifth day of the pre-election campaign, Prime Minister and presidential candidate SERGE SARGSYAN was hosted in Nor Nork District. Thousands of voters had gathered there much before the hour appointed ...POPULISM IS OUR CROSS AND WE WILL ALWAYS BEAR IT
LILIT POGHOSYAN
Member of NA Republican faction Vladimir Badalyan says the pre-election tricks against the top presidential candidate are of course unacceptable but still “logical”.
Below we bring to your kind notice ...GEORGIA-AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA
ARMEN TSATOURYANWhich country will win in the presidential marathon? 2008 is a year of presidential elections for Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan simultaneously; therefore, whether or no we like it, we become the ...HOW TO CORRECT THE HISTORICAL INJUSTICE?
G. M.
During one of the meetings in provinces Aram Zaven Sargsyan was trying to prove that “during his seven years of power Levon Ter-Petrosyan didn’t own even one shop.”
Let’s not concentrate on the unique ...NATURAL INTEREST
Without Foreign Interference
To what extent can the factor of the foreign interference influence the forthcoming presidential elections?
Vladimir Badalyan answers the question of “Hayots Ashkharh” ...
ENCIRCLEMENT OF ARMENIA MAY BECOME TIGHTER
VARDAN GRIGORYANARMENIA IN THE CROSSROAD OF THE CONFLICTS
VASAK TARPOSHYANTHE MOVING FORCE OF COLORED REVOLUTIONS
KAREN NAHAPETYANTHE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LEVON
LILIT POGHOSYANPRESIDENTS MEET IN SOCHI
PRESS SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT
GEORGIA-AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA
ARMEN TSATOURYANBRILLIANT FUTURE IN STORE FOR ARMENIA
GEVORG HAROUTYUNYANLEVON FROM ALEPPO WAGES A LIBERATION STRUGGLE
ARMEN TSATOURYANASPIRATIONS AND PROSPECTS
ARMEN TSATURYAN
WE ARE ALL GOING TO LIVE IN NEW ARMENIA
GEVORG HARUTYUNYANNO SENSE OF GUILT
LET’S BUILD A BETTER ARMENIA TOGETHER
GEVORG HAROUTYUNYAN Agarak – Meghri – Kapan – YerevanJIN COMES OUT OF THE JUG
VARDAN GRIGORYANLET THEM HAVE A FUN
“HAYOTS ASHKHARH”HOW TO CORRECT THE HISTORICAL INJUSTICE?
G. M.
- 1914 After long negotiations and a bitter diplomatic stuggle, the Russo-Turkish Treaty on Western Armenian reforms is finally signed in Constantinople.
- 1920 Armenia was formally recognized by European countries.
- 1922 The first Yerevan State Dramatic theatre was opened. It was named the Soondookian Theatre after 1937.
- 1926 Opening of the First Exhibition of Armenian Fine Arts in Yerevan.
- 1951 Death of philologist Zabel Boyajian.
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.