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1. The traditional parties in Armenia have nothing to offer the people in the way of true democratic participation. No wonder they sat out the February 18 presidential election. More rhetoric and generalities not backed up by practice. The parties make their obligatory presence known only at election time. They are nowhere to be found in between. There is nor real engagement with the citizen and voter in Armenia. The people realize that many of the so-called opposition parties are merely so in name. Their actions speak otherwise. These top-down parties (ARF, HAK, PAP) need to forge more horizontal rather than vertical strategies if they wish to become relevant in the lives of ordinary people clamoring for change. This is the challenge now facing Raffi Hovannisian – how to harness and use the 600,000 voters who said no to Serzh Sargsyan (More like 1,000,000 if we factor in the likelyvote rigging that took place). Will it be squandered as in 2008?

2. Regardless of the election results, regardless whether one takes them as the truth, the question remains how will this groundswell of popular sentiment for real change be harnessed and used. What do the traditional parties in Armenia, the other “opposition” forces that did not participate in the election now have to offer in the way of democratically engaging the 600,000 or so voters who did not cast a ballot for Serzh Sargsyan. The tried and failed top-down approach to actually changing the reality in Armenia must be discarded. There is the real potential to forge true people power in Armenia. Will Raffi and the other so-called opposition forces be up to the task. Are those 600,000 (more like 1,000,000, if you factor in the vote rigging that took place in favor of the incumbent) ready to unite and organize around every day issues that affect them on a personal level? Hopefully, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Many of the points that Dr Mensoian makes are valid and worth serious consideration, especially by the newly elected President.
   However, it is a veiled criticism of the ARF and the other parties that decided not to participate in the election by fielding a candidate. On this ponit I disagree.
   The comparison to participate or not in the election to ” Fedayees” engaged in battles is illogical.
   Modern day elections have many nuances. Two factors weigh very heavily. One is electebality and the other is financing. If you do not have a candidate that has the popularity and the recognition to be elected, and the funds necessary to finance a grueliing contest, than you are better off to commit the resources you have in ” battles” that you can win or at least make a positive influence.
   In the past elections, ARF candidates garnered a low percentage of the electoral votes. In my view, the ARF should spend its time and money on sharpening its focus, its communications with the electorate, and take the steps necessary by
   “walking the talk” and make a real difference in some aspects of the lives of our brethren and sisters in the Homeland.
   I personally am not a pundit, and have no idea what will happen next in Armenia with the current developments after Raffi’s unexpectedly high showing in the elections. In my view, elections are over and I am doubtful that anything will change
   the results. Now it is a time for the President and all elected members of the parliament to get together and find solutions to the problems facing Armenia.( No
   Laundry list is necessary).
   As for the pundits who do nothing other than criticise this or that in Armenia, please stop being only negative and try to come up with suggestions/ideas/proposals that
   can have a tangible effect.
   Vart Adjemian

4. Before daring to disclose my viewpoints,nay beliefs…I think it is time that I commence -like others-to present my qualifications?-O.K. I went through elementary schooling in Tehran learnign quite well Farsi and Armenian,In london at age 16, went through Clark´s College studying G.E.C.(equivalent to High School)In a suburban town of London , then onm to Pitman´s College Central London ,business Adminsitration,which did not quite finish it.then with brother started two small industries one U.S. (under license) the other Spanish…where we settled down since 1968 and stayed on till 1990.during latter 24 yrs began my efforts to catchj up with Armenian National affairs,so to say in Paris, marseilles Lyon and some in Gneva CH, Madrid Spain.
   Paricipated at the the First Armenian World Congress,(some 378 delegates attedning each with a 30 person proxy, from near all Armneian community countries, presenting my ¨¨paper¨ along with 28 others.And for 3 Days, 6 Sessions of 5/6 hours each(only one hour lunch breaks) at the
   modern NIKKO Hotel in Paris. & of us were by eected to be next to executive.Then two more ,at Lausanne and back to paris again.then many a time to meetings in France mainly,in a couple I delivered discourses re mine.
   Now then , since a few o f my articles were published in relation to what I am to describe below(all rest in the Armenian Reporter, Hairenik and Asbarez and another in Beirut,etc.) most others dealing with ordianry Armenian affairs so to say.Only One some 7 yrs ago in USArmenian weekly and latest in two .One in Nor Gyank begiinig january 10,20

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