Diaspora communities observe 'serious domestic political polarization' in Armenia, says Turkish-Armenian editor  

Hripsime Hovhannisyan

The domestic political developments in Armenia always evoke the Diaspora communities' direct interest, motivating the locally run media to provide a detailed coverage of them, reflecting their unique approaches through the existing "single window", says Ara Gochunyan, the editor-in- chief of the Istanbul-based Armenian daily Zhamanak.

In an interview with Tert.am, he addressed the latest developments in the country, focusing particularly on the situation around the Constitutional Court.

"The Diaspora is not originally predisposed to take sides with the domestic developments in Armenia. What the Diaspora takes sides with - when it comes to Armenia's domestic life - deals with the state stengthening efforts," he said.

Recalling the past three decades' history since independence, Gochunyan noted that the country is now governed "by democratic principles", a democracy which he said "was achieved in rather complicated conditions."

"Remembering the challenges of Armenia's independence period, we see the consistence which the Armenian people - and the Armenian statehood - demonstrated in their efforts towards democracy strengthening. And what democracy obliges in essence is a fight between opposing powers. The government change processes which occur produce their consequences, necessitating efforts to bring [state] institutions in line with the new situations," he added.

The Turkish-Armenian journalist noted that apart from the democratic twists and turns, Diaspora also also observes a "serious domestic political polarization" in Armenia.

"Global democracy is confronting serious challenges today. The world's major superpower, the United States, used to act as a kind of 'apostle of democracy'. Today, however, the world has turned into a multi-polar [structure], with the leading players not taking any step towards democracy building on the international platforms."

In the current situation, Gichunyan said, Armenia is in need of a real democracy to neutralize the challenges stemming from its limited opportunities and the permanent threat of war. "When a war breaks out, the Armenian people face the urgent necessity of being unanimous," he added.

Gochunyan refrained from expressing political preferences in support a specific political force, stressing instead the role of democracy and the strengthening of statehood as a supreme task under the current "polarized" conditions.

"It is necessary to have the understanding that the present-day Republic of Armenia is the only stronghold for the preservation of 10 million Armenians' shared national heritage. The Diaspora respects the Armenian citizen's choice.

"The Diaspora always strives for building a competitive economy in Armenia, to make the country appealing also for itself by raising the citizens' living standards.

"Hence the existing polarizations in the public life - and the absence of contacts in the political domain - give rise to question in the Diaspora," Gochunyan said, adding that he is nonetheless inclined to trust the Armenian citizen's common sense.

Agreeing that that the greater responsibility in all periods rested with the incumbent government, he highlighted democracy's role as a key pillar distinguishing the permanent values "by juxtaposing the authorities and the opposition".  

As a real advantage for Armenia, Gochunyan highlighted the current authorities swift accession to power "without much noise"

"And the authorities are lucky enough today that the opposition has representatives who stand as key role-players at the roots of Armenia's statehood building. The strengthening of the statehood must be a focal point [uniting] the objectives of the opposition and the government. Any epoch had both its advantages and disadvantages, and the progressing Armenian statehoo today d is the sum effect of those days. Taking a retrospective glance to value [the past] is good - likewise it is good to bring to light the omissions to avoid their repetition in the future," Gochunyan added.