Two steps forward, one step back
This past weekend, there was a very interesting conference that took place in Tsakhkadzor on the social state of Armenia. The conference was hosted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center – Armenia (CRRC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) – Armenia, and brought together Armenian government officials (National Assembly, Central Bank, ministry of education, ministry of labor, ministry of finance, ministry of health), key researchers from Armenia, Germany and the UK, and members from local and international organizations.
Over 60 experts worked and collaborated together to identify opportunities to improve the social state in Armenia, and to primarily identify ways to help restore faith and trust in the citizens of Armenia toward their country and government. Leadership in this country remains to be a primary problem and the citizens of Armenia no longer have hope that government and social services will improve considering the injustice and corruption that still overwhelm the nation. Considering these issues, it was so remarkable to witness the active dialogue between these political officials and social scientists, and to see them identify recommendations to submit to local political officials and to the public. This country can definitely improve itself with the engagement of its citizens.
Another highlight of our weekend was seeing the great improvements made to the city of Tsakhkadzor. I recall (a few years back) when this city was almost completely deserted and no longer had real attraction for tourists. This year, new hotels have been built and new ones continue to develop; the ski slopes are in fantastic shape (Ani, this is FYI as well!!!), and the number of tourists seems to have tripled.
Overall, I was so pleased with this weekend and realized that this country never stops to surprise me. It is indeed on a great pace towards improvement and even if corruption and injustice continue to prevail, the conference participants proved to me that it’s just a matter of time before local Armenians begun to create a positive movement towards change in their country.
My bubble was burst however during our drive back to Yerevan. We had noticed from the rear-view mirror that a number of cops were driving towards Yerevan as well. A few police trucks went past our car at a very high pace, and loudly (and rudely) yelled through their microphones for all cars to pull aside quickly (by the way, do they really believe we understand what they are saying when they yell like that?). We knew that the president was on his way back to Yerevan as well. We slowed the car down and pulled aside as much as we could without falling off the cliff, when all of a sudden, we felt a huge ‘BANG’ on our car and I thought that was the end of us. After we calmed our baby down, and gathered our own nerves, we realized what had really happened. The presidents’ bodyguards literally skinned our car and broke the rear-view mirror and grazed the side of our car. Apparently when the president drives by, 2-4 trucks must drive on both sides to protect him from any potential attacks. This means that they take up literally 3 lanes of the road (when there really are only 2 lanes on the highway). Since we were at the side of the cliff and had no more room to pull over, the bodyguards had no choice I suppose but to hit us (but of course!!!). I know that the president is quite fearful for his life, but is this any way to gain any kind of popularity with the public? These trucks could’ve really hurt us, and most importantly our baby, and there would be nothing that we could do about it…
For every two steps this country takes forward, we’re reminded that there’s still always a step back.
Over 60 experts worked and collaborated together to identify opportunities to improve the social state in Armenia, and to primarily identify ways to help restore faith and trust in the citizens of Armenia toward their country and government. Leadership in this country remains to be a primary problem and the citizens of Armenia no longer have hope that government and social services will improve considering the injustice and corruption that still overwhelm the nation. Considering these issues, it was so remarkable to witness the active dialogue between these political officials and social scientists, and to see them identify recommendations to submit to local political officials and to the public. This country can definitely improve itself with the engagement of its citizens.
Another highlight of our weekend was seeing the great improvements made to the city of Tsakhkadzor. I recall (a few years back) when this city was almost completely deserted and no longer had real attraction for tourists. This year, new hotels have been built and new ones continue to develop; the ski slopes are in fantastic shape (Ani, this is FYI as well!!!), and the number of tourists seems to have tripled.
Overall, I was so pleased with this weekend and realized that this country never stops to surprise me. It is indeed on a great pace towards improvement and even if corruption and injustice continue to prevail, the conference participants proved to me that it’s just a matter of time before local Armenians begun to create a positive movement towards change in their country.
My bubble was burst however during our drive back to Yerevan. We had noticed from the rear-view mirror that a number of cops were driving towards Yerevan as well. A few police trucks went past our car at a very high pace, and loudly (and rudely) yelled through their microphones for all cars to pull aside quickly (by the way, do they really believe we understand what they are saying when they yell like that?). We knew that the president was on his way back to Yerevan as well. We slowed the car down and pulled aside as much as we could without falling off the cliff, when all of a sudden, we felt a huge ‘BANG’ on our car and I thought that was the end of us. After we calmed our baby down, and gathered our own nerves, we realized what had really happened. The presidents’ bodyguards literally skinned our car and broke the rear-view mirror and grazed the side of our car. Apparently when the president drives by, 2-4 trucks must drive on both sides to protect him from any potential attacks. This means that they take up literally 3 lanes of the road (when there really are only 2 lanes on the highway). Since we were at the side of the cliff and had no more room to pull over, the bodyguards had no choice I suppose but to hit us (but of course!!!). I know that the president is quite fearful for his life, but is this any way to gain any kind of popularity with the public? These trucks could’ve really hurt us, and most importantly our baby, and there would be nothing that we could do about it…
For every two steps this country takes forward, we’re reminded that there’s still always a step back.
posted by Lara at 11:28 AM
12 Comments:
Thank God, none of you was hurt. Bear in mind that you may have been hit by the same guys who beat to death an inoccent man in the toilet of an [in]famous Yerevan cafe...
Lara...
Antsadz ella... take good care of Raffi and Roupo!
Love...
Vatche, Taline, Tro and Karnie.
You know when I was in Armenia, I lived on the street (Antarain Street) that also had the presidential palace on it.
The front of the palace is on the Bagramyan street, but the back part was on ours. And it was not a challange to jump in to the backyard, but staying alive would be since they had guard dogs unleashed all the time.
Besides the presidential guard was always armed with AKS74-U machine guns, and there was always a BTR80 armored vehicle inside.
I know this because the back enterance was right on the lower side of our street. And after soccer games we would ask the guard if he will let us drink the kick ass cold water from the PULPULAK. He would let us go one by one.
Well the president mostly always left his residence through this blue gate. And his bodyguards would drive as idiots. They would go on such extreme speeds that many times they had accidents right on the crossstreets of Bagramyan and I beleive Jrashat.
It is true that security detail has to move fast, but they have to use some common sence. And with you they just did not.
Besides if they really were good leaders they would not need such high level of security. That just shows how alienated they are from their people.
In todays world having bodyguards for politicians is a necesity, but what they are doing is just show of might and wealth, EVEN they dont need such level of security.
I recall the days when Demirjyan WOULD STAND OUTSIDE OF THAT SAME GATE and wait for his driver to pick him up. By the way the driver was just armed with a handgun.
hmmm, talk about a "brush with fame".... sorry, couldn't resist. I'm afraid to ask if the question of money for the repairs is even being considered?
Anyway, as I say, Armenia's only problem is it's government... if it had good governance, all of the other problems would be solved or unimportant...
Lara, I'm so relieved you're all fine. This vulgar display of strength--which would seem ridiculous to even them, I wager, if they would stand back and take a look--is part and parcel of a sickly & illusory power image that breeds an ugly life of its own.
As for the lovely runs, I guess that means I'm bringing my skis with me?! Mum's the word to Mr. Panic.
Shad bachigner kezi, Raffiin yev hamovigin.
A.
A "brush with fame"... Heheheh, Raffi, I must be rubbing off on you, the same way Kocharyan's okhranik rubbed off on Lara's car... Well, maybe not the exact same way... ;-)
But, Lara, that was a pretty tight scrape, eh ? Talk about governMENTAL... ;-)
Aks it is interesting that how was the times when Levon Ter-Petrosyan was the president?
Some "habits" or behaviors apparently are not easily forgotten or changed. The terrible and frightening incident you and your family recently experienced reminds me of a summer day in 2003, when my husband and I, fellow teachers, and children were on an outing. We had just passed Spitak. Suddenly, out of no where, a police car darted and halted in front of our bus, nearly causing a crash. It was an extremely dangerous and heartless way of stopping a vehicle, especially one with so many children on it. The office took the bus driver away with no reason given. For about an hour, we had no idea what was happening. We were left stranded on the highway. Finally, the driver returned (to a bus full of frightened and shaken-up passengers and some terrified, crying children). When we asked the driver why the officer had stopped the bus, the poor fellow said, "Pogh oozets, ooreesh vocheench (He wanted money, nothing else)."
In the summer of 1975, when my husband and I were on our way to visit my relatives in Armenia--with a mandatory stop in Moscow--we were shocked and stunned by the cold-hearted disregard for human beings as a large, loud, ugly, street-washing vehicle came barreling down Red Square shooting water with great force everywhere and on all of us--men, women, and children. Frantically, we all ran to get out of the way of the monster-of-a-vehicle. Parents lifted their children into their arms, and as they fled for safety some fell and a few were nearly crushed by the vehicle driven by a human being just like them. Looking back, it can be said that that was the "habit" or behavior then, during the Soviet days. What is the reason now for such callousness and heartlessness?
Knarik O. Meneshian
When are you people going to realise that so long as the soviet bred governing generation is not passed, as in the other 14 former republics, the antics of the rulers will continue unabated and as feudal as during the terror era?
Raffy K. what is good governement?
Can you name one anywhere in the current crop, East-West-North-South, we can emulate as good exemple?
It is said people deserve the governement they get.
Until(utopic expectation) people start changing their ME first addiction, there will be no satisfactory governence anywhere!
This sounds pessimistic, but it's the reality. Do you care to contredict$
I'd love to debate this issue.
I am def. NOT interested in debating, esp. with someone anonymous. Armenia could have gone the way of the Baltics at the least, and just because good governance is hard to come by, doesn't mean it should be/needs to be.
AKS I used to live on Antarayin also. Building number 190. The same exact building you are talking about.Our building was right behind the presidential palace. We used to go down the the presidential palace garden also to drink from pulpulak and pick strawberries on your way back. So we might of been neighbors.
>> "I know that the president is quite fearful for his life"
But why should he be? I mean he takes so good care of his country and his people - right??????
In Denmark where I come from, our Prime Minister goes ALONE to the supermarked and does his shopping. And he walks the streets of copenhagen ALONE. So why dont Robert grow some balls and step outside with the rest of us. If he does his job right, he shouldt fear anything should he!!
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