Most people prefer spending their vacation on the coast. For former citizens of the Soviet republics, there is no substitute to the Black Sea. Whereas Armenians used to love vacationing at Sochi, now they prefer going to Kobuleti and the other seaside regions of Georgia. Middle-class Armenians like to spend their vacation at the Black Sea, while some, mainly non high-ranking officials, love to go on vacation in Anatolia. The prices are affordable and the service is very good. From this perspective, people have started to lose interest in Sevan Lake and there aren’t many people going there. However, I must say that there were more people spending their vacation in Sevan Lake a couple of years ago than now. The citizens lower than the middle-class don’t even think about going on vacation. They are satisfied with going to Sevan Lake, Garni, Geghard or somewhere else for the weekend. As for the poverty-stricken citizens, which make up 40% of Armenia’s population, it’s obvious that they can’t even go on that weekend vacation. If they are from the city, the least they can do is go and visit their relatives in the villages, or vice versa. The rich and high-ranking officials are mainly the ones that have the opportunity to spend their vacation however they want and I tried finding out who went where over the summer.
We all found out from the presses that President Robert Kocharyan spent his vacation at Sevan Lake and he most probably did what he loves-surfing. The president is currently in Sochi on a business trip to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Based on the information in one newspaper, Defense Minister of Armenia Serge Sargsyan spent his vacation in Monte Carlo. The same newspaper added that businessman and MP Gagik Tsarukyan joined Sargsyan in Monte Carlo. Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan is out of the country, but the press agencies weren’t able to give information about where he spent his summer vacation. But our sources told us that he is in Baden. Frankly, it was kind of hard to find out where the executive governmental officials spent their summer vacation-their mobile phones were either unreachable, or they simply didn’t answer any calls. Justice Minister of Armenia David Harutyunyan went on vacation with his wife, children, mother, mother-in-law and father-in-law. The press secretary of Finances Minister Vartan Khachatryan said that the minister usually likes to spend his vacation in the Homeland, in Jermuk. In fact, head of the state taxation service Felix Tsolakyan and leader of the Armenian Democratic Party Stepan Demirchyan were also in Jermuk. It’s quite possible that other government officials are on vacation in Jermuk, where they can relax and talk about the upcoming heated-up politics in the fall.
I had more interviews with officials of the legislative branch. In contrast to ministers, parliamentarians weren’t afraid to talk about their vacation. Secretary of the Rule of Law faction Heghine Bisharyan said that she wasn’t going to go on vacation because she was busy remodeling her house. She added that head of the Rule of Law party Arthur Baghdasaryan had returned from Bulgaria. Businessman MP Khachatur Sukiasyan was supposed to be on vacation in France. MPs Hmayak Hovhanisyan and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan didn’t go on vacation because they were working. After all, the current bad situation of the country doesn’t allow them to rest. Hmayak Hovhannisyan said that he just couldn’t go on vacation because many citizens of Armenia don’t have that opportunity either. But Mr. Hovhannisyan goes to Sevan Lake to take a dip once a week. He loves the water. In general, Armenian MPs like to swim and read during their vacation. After talking with them, you get the impression that they don’t do anything else, for example, fishing, hunting, horse-back riding or even playing cards…They don’t even like playing cards.
MP Arshak Sadoyan says that he not only has the time to go on vacation (he has some house
problems), but also he doesn’t have the opportunity. Leader of the National Unity party Artashes Geghamyan hasn’t gone on vacation to this day, not because he feels pain for the people, but rather, as he says, “I don’t know where to go. I’m waiting for the vacationers to return so I’ll know which place is the best place to go. Good-bye,” said Artashes Geghamyan, who always gives similar original responses to questions.
It seemed as though leader of the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan also wasn’t going to go on vacation, but he considered it quite possible. Republican Galust Sahakyan also stayed in Yerevan and claims that he always stays in Yerevan during the vacation. As for another Republican, Armen Ashotyan, going on vacation has somehow lost its meaning. He became a father this year and there is no greater pleasure than that.
Head of Alternative Mass Media television company Tigran Karapetyan decided to coordinate pleasure and helpfulness. He goes to Sevan every week with a bunch of people.
And this is how we Armenians spend our vacation.