Some of our readers have probably seen one of the videos of the Kargin Haghordum (Decent Program), which relates to the customs officer. Having found out that one of the visitors is an illusionist the customs officer asks him to show him a “trick.” Afterward he decides to show his abilities of the magic. Afterward he points out to one of the trucks parked in the yard and says, “There is black caviar in there.” Then he sits and signs a piece of paper and says, “Here is a trick for you. The caviar turns into peas.”
In fact a part of the customs officers are always busy with such tricks. They turn the caviar into peas, the expensive perfume is turned into pig food, etc. No, they are not having fun with that; neither do they prepare for tours. All they do is take care of their families through magic. The tickets are pretty expensive. The trick with one truck may cost 10.000 USD. There is no lack of audience either because they steal tickets from each other or find friends to get the tickets. For example, the importer of black caviar knows that he will have to pay 30.000 USD for customs check-up. As a result of the trick the caviar is turned into peas and only 5000 USD is paid. He pays 10.000 for the trick and that’s all. He also benefits (pays 15.000 instead of 30.000). The magician receives 10.000 out of nothing. The only loser is the state budget of RA. This is only a small sample from the opulent arsenal of tricks. And out illusionists are very talented. They have numerous tricks. A part of the profits received from tricks is sent not to orphanages but to the ones “above.” The “above” may be conditionally called committee of preparing magicians. The committee sends its income to the ones that are higher. This committee is a quite complicated structure, which supervises not only the magicians of the customs service but also the tax service, road construction, police, social security and others. No, all this shouldn’t be considered as a mere joke. Vice versa, serious issues and questions are created, which the newly elected President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan asked the customs officers two days ago. When watching the part of that meeting on TV one can draw several conclusions. A. Sargsyan only recently found out that angels don’t work in the Customs Service. It is hard to believe that because he was the Prime Minister during the past year and was aware of everything. Besides that everyone, who lives in Armenia is aware of that. B. He has known about that and was trying to fight it but wasn’t able. But who would ever hinder him? Now no one can say that Sargsyan is not aware of the amoral environment, which exists in the Customs Service as well as the level of corruption. Now he is the number one official of the state and can definitely fight against that without anyone’s interference. He says that he is pretty determined to that. Under these circumstances what else can hinder a person, who has powers and levers to resolve the problem? Only the miracle can stop him. “Many of you are aware of this issue and I am even sure that some of you know who are concretely in charge of corruption. They are just being silent,” said Sargsyan during the meeting with the customs officers. We can offer concrete means. For example, they can give some money from the state budget to an average citizen and send him abroad to bring a few sacks of sugar. I am sure that this citizen will concretely explain who are the ones that ruin the budget of this country and debilitate the business of others. The rest is a technical matter. All they need to do is send the corrupt magicians to penitentiaries and from there release the ones, who have been raising their voice about these violations and flaws. There are other methods as well – questions to the head of the Customs Service. We may start from the question of uncle Artavazd, “How much is your salary, son?” The next question may be stricter. “Hey, how could you afford your Hummer (this may be done without cameras)?” Some may say that it is not right to ask such questions because the ones, who are asked may inquire from the person, who asks him the question. He may but he won’t. Because in order to find officials, who would dare to ask such questions you need someone who doesn’t drive a Hummer truck. Of course it is hard to believe that some day the wide-scale illusionism will be over. Such promises are always given but hardly any comes true. But this time there is a little hope that the government will be willing to improve the situation not for the society but for themselves in order to increase their trust and credit in the eyes of citizens. The citizens will decide to give credit to the government not by what they see on TV but by simple things such as how the customs officer meets the car importer on the border, the way the policeman greets the citizen, the face of the tax inspector, etc. Therefore quite many efforts are necessary as just illusionism won’t help to recover the people’s trust.