I don’t feel well, when political powers have nothing to say, than discrediting one another: Sarkis Shahinian

“Our organization wished to support the dialogue between the people and the authorities through three different programs,” Sarkis Shahinian, founder and executive director of DEPOP Institute of Governance, told reporters today.

S.Shahinian introduced three projects implemented in Armenia within upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia in April 2017. The first project is called “Status quo”, which is implemented in partnership with the Public Radio. It’s comprised of radio programs, broadcast through the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as in Diaspora communities.

The project aims at fighting against election bribe and corruption. S.Shahinian stated that 9 radio programs are planned until the upcoming parliamentary elections. The project will host experts from respective fields based on the day’s topic, and will be live broadcast providing interlocutors the opportunity to pose questions through calls.

The second project is implemented in partnership with “168 Hours” newspaper.

“This will establish another platform to touch upon Armenia’s crucial issues. Editor-in-chief of “168 Hours” newspaper Satik Seyranyan participates as the conductor, but not always, there are others as well—prominent political scientists, publicists. The guests are decision-makers, they are important figures in our political life,” S.Shahinian said. The project was launched in February 2017 with the duration of 9 weeks, including one week after the parliamentary elections.

The third project is called “April is my future”. This is a PSA project with four footages. Among other functions the project will be implemented through well-known respectable persons, who will encourage abstaining from negative traditions like non-participation in the elections or taking election bribe. The producer of footages is Andre Simonian.

“We don’t intend to work miracles, however, we want them to take place. These miracles should be implemented by people, by realizing and feeling. Our responsibility is calling each political power to account, regarding what they want to touch upon to be able to improve the country. I don’t feel well, when on already political platforms political powers have nothing to do, than simply discrediting one another. This is neither political, nor civil culture,” Shahinian said.

To the question of 168.am what anticipations he has from the upcoming elections, which moods are existent and to which extent are our citizens ready to take part in the elections, S.Shahinian replied,

“When we decided to implement these projects, the reason was that there was disappointment, distrust among the public, which is rather spread. I should be able to reply to your question on the next day of elections only. Until now people convoke congresses, they simply intend to fill the halls with people brought from villages. People come, deliver speeches, gain applauses and that’s it. There is no possibility yet to pose the question to the candidate personally and having the answer. In all the congresses I participated, I asked whether they have invited opponents and provided them the opportunity to explain what’s their difference. No one did this.”

To our clarifying question, whether he doesn’t consider enough the activities of political powers— informing and involving the public in this process, S.Shahinian said,

“Each power should realize it. To some extent it’s taking place in different statements, however, when people are invited, they only want to be themselves to proceed their campaign, and they don’t perceive significance of that dialogue. They don’t want to socialize with people. This makes me sad and humiliates our political life.”

We also asked what’s the reason for that, and whether our political powers don’t have ideology, their say, and whether they don’t realize that it should be so. In reply, S.Shahinian said he can’t say the reason, as it’s realization of each political party and power, “Maybe you’ll find answer in your question.”