Richard Giragossian, a Washington-based Armenian analyst, repeated yesterday at the Friday Club his opinion that Armenia is exposed to internal threat, namely corruption and ineffective governance. He said he views the parliamentary election neutrally, as someone from the Diaspora. Saying that he is perhaps the only person in Armenia who mentions names, Giragossian enumerated three figures who are able to bring about change. “I see three people who are highly important. The first is Davit Harutyunyan. The new National Assembly is a new stage for Harutyunyan. As Minister of Justice, he carried out reforms and amendments to the Constitution. Now as a lawmaker he is getting an excellent opportunity to make much more important, much smarter steps. The second is Arthur Aghabekyan. I am happy these two are chairs of standing committees, especially because General Aghabekyan, as a real reformer in this National Assembly, will be able to make more powerful moves with the military budget in terms of NATO and the Collective Security Pact. And the last name, a new name, since for me not only the name is important but also its being a new name and what it implies. This person is Nerses Yeritsyan, the new minister of trade and economic development. It was a surprise for me, but as a professional, as the new generation, I say bravo, because Yeritsyan is bound for the future, because in order to develop, Armenia needs such a new generation, with a clear reputation, and professional, more importantly, in the economy, because for the future of Armenia economic power is more important than the army and soldiers,” says Giragossian. The second essential thing for the future is democracy, specifically institutional democracy. The political scientist says he views the parliament as a whole, not the victory, strengthening, or weakening of one force or another. Giragossian particularly refers to the change and progress in the thinking of Armenian businessmen in relation to Georgia and Azerbaijan. In this connection, Richard Giragossian points to Khachatur Sukiasyan. He congratulated him on his recent statements on promotion of reforms, effective efforts against corruption, and monopolies.
