saramarabu

In recent months European newspapers carried accounts of forced sterilization in other countries, such as Finalnd, Norway, Denmark, Austria and Belgium. But the fact that in Sweden more persons were sterilized, on a per capita basis, than in other countries is hard to understand both in Sweden and abroad. Perhaps it has to do with the image that Swedes have of themselves and that they want to spread: Sweden, the peaceful nation, neutral, unafraid to point at violations of human rights in other parts of the world, a country of advanced social reforms, where citizens enjoy a high and guaranteed level of public services in education, health and social welfare.

As hard as it may be for Levon Ter-Petrossyan's (LTP) supporters to admit this fact, not everybody supports LTP and his unacceptable policies for Armenia. In fact, by his own participation in the presidential election LTP pushed away many of the voters who are discontent with the incompetent rule of the current administration and were ready to vote for a uniting opposition candidate. However, a large swath of rational voters who are not suffering from amnesia could not bear to vote for LTP and his adopted policies. In return, LTP resorted to divisive politics (a term in vogue in US) and a smear campaign against those who reject him. He exploited and deepened the already alarming (and unjustified) dislike of the people of Karabakhi origin by the Yerevan residents, as if there is a difference between Armenians in Karabakh, Yerevan, Gyumri or the Diaspora. Yerevan is the capital of all Armenians of the world. As a result, diasporan Armenians in Los Angeles call local Armenian TV stations during talk shows and use expressions like "Gharabaghtsi Turqer". Those people need to be thrown across the contact line in Artsakh, to the Azeri side, so they can appreciate the full meaning of the word Turk. This is unacceptable! Yet LTP went on to insult the majority of the voters and the Armenian nation, those who do not agree with him and do not stand by him, by calling them "azgi takanq". Sadly so, no one from LTP's supporters spoke out against it. Does it mean that the likes of ***** ********* [one of the persons involved in the correspondence, V.K.] agree with that comment?

Vazgen Sargsyan did not agree with LTP policies, is he considered "azgi takanq"?

How about Monte Melkonyan, who personally participated in the liberation of Qelbajar, a region which LTP worked hard (fortunately unsuccessfully) to return to the enemy? On the wall of his room in Martuni Monte had a map of all the territories surrounding former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), which, as he had concluded, needed to be liberated in order to achieve a lasting geostrategic balance in Artsakh. LTP was strongly opposing any further liberation and currently intends to return them unconditionally. Does this disagreement between Monte and LTP over Qelbajar and other liberated territories make commander Avo "azgi takanq"? No and no. Just because someone disagrees with your viewpoint, he does not automatically become "a propagandistic tool".

I, for one, cannot support a man who declares the unconditional return of liberated Armenian lands, nor can I support a presidential candidate who does not have a vision for NKR's independence (LTP declared that NKR cannot achieve independence like Kosovo did). This alone is enough for me to oppose him, but i don't think this makes me a nation's scum. On the other hand, cop killers in all countries are considered scums of society and should be treated accordingly. Protesting peacefully in the Opera square is one thing, shooting at the policemen and beating them to death is another. The latter requires prosecution by the full force of the law as it is an assault against the state, our state, the state of all Armenians.

A lot has been said against LTP policies. Equally as much has been said to criticize the unacceptable and corrupt practices of the current administration. Now the time has come to restrain ourselves and rein in our emotions, because this domestic bickering is threatening to weaken Armenia in its struggle against external enemies and destroy our statehood. It's time to sober up.