Today.Az » Analytics » Christmas tale by Serzh Sargsyan
06 January 2010 [12:04] - Today.Az
Most likely, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spent much time rehearsing his New Year address to the nation. His speechwriters puzzled very long over just what their boss will tell so as not to spoil the feast of Armenians and not to lead them to depression.
Frankly speaking, the task of the speechwriters was not an easy one. Whatever one may say, Sargsyan would never succeed in cheering up people and saying something positive about the outgoing year and promising anything good in the year 2010 while not lying.
Given this reality, namely, incomprehensible foreign policy, discouraging domestic situation, as well as the appalling financial and economic state of the country, any of his speech would look ridiculous in this case.
This is what actually happened. Sargsyan and his speechwriters clearly overdid stuffing the president’s speech with bright and pseudo-positive colors.
One could not help laughing when Sargsyan, portraying confidence and belief in his own speech, pointed out that the outgoing year was allegedly marked by Armenia's new actions in foreign policy "characterized by its own initiatives rather than retaliatory steps."
"These initiatives are designed to raise our country to a new level of international politics and to open new horizons for development,” the president of the neighboring country added.
It seems even Sargsyan himself does not know about what level he was speaking because this level does not simply exist. With regard to Armenia's conduct in foreign policy, it has not changed for the past 20 years. The occupation of Azerbaijani lands, their illegal barbaric exploitation, false statements on the international stage - that is all about foreign policy. Has something changed in the year of 2009?
Nevertheless, there are changes. Recently, we have observed a new phenomenon in foreign policy - an imitation of the negotiation process and a desire to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. But imitation. No more.
In his speech, Sargsyan particularly emphasized the country's army, noting that "the key element for us is the Armenian army which is growing each year and which protects the motherland day and night including during this festive time. This is the army with roots in our immortal ancestors ... "
What was the Armenian president referring to when he spoke of strengthening army from year to year is anew unclear, because any ordinary citizen of this country is aware of a real situation in the army. They know how Armenian soldiers regularly ran over the front line to escape from commanders and superiors one after another, to get rid of unsanitary conditions, and, finally, to taste normal foods. Is this the strengthening army you meant?
The immortal ancestors who stand at origins of the Armenian army is another lie which needs no comment.
Continuing his, I would say, brief speech, Sargsyan spoke about the impact of financial and economic crisis on the Armenian economy. More precisely, on something similar to it. He did it in a peculiar manner – he lied once again. A lie was that he said the state will comply with all its social commitments next year, too. I would like to cite one example –students will not be paid scholarships in 2010 first time in Armenia’s modern history. The crisis does not allow doing it. What social commitments did the president mean then?
I think that the afore-mentioned quotations by Sargsyan gives overall picture of the New Year's speech by the Armenian president which is more like a Christmas tale that Grandfather Frost – Sargsyan - decided to tell the kids closer to midnight ...
Hamid Hamidov
Day.Az writer
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