Locals Express Hopeful Expectations and Cautious Skepticisms

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Local Voices Express Hopeful Expectations and Cautious Skepticisms

May 31, 2018 at 10:45 am Sofia Manukyan

It has been over three weeks since we are living in a different Armenia. Now, in just a few days, the interim government will present its program of short term policies. Many are hopeful about the potential for positive change, but others are more cautious. How much change will actually be possible?

A photo taken in Yerevan on the day Serge Sarkisian resigned from the role of prime minister. (Photo: Sofia Manukyan/The Armenian Weekly)

It’s helpful to remember that from the start, the leaders of Armenia’s peaceful revolution were consistent in outlining several very concrete main goals. The first, to elect their leader, Nikol Pashinyan, as interim prime minister has been achieved. Also achieved: their goal of forming and appointing a temporary government. Still in the works are the implementation of legislative changes to the electoral code and changing laws on political parties to ensure fair and free snap elections (predicted to be organized this autumn). Additionally, they have stated intentions to clear state bodies of special interests and work to eliminate corruption in the country. (To this end, a new body was recently established, called the “State Oversight Service of Armenia” run by Davit Sanasaryan.)

But while these broader goals are enough to keep the newly formed apparatus fully busy, citizens are already following up expectations for problems in more specific, regional interests to be addressed.

For some unpopular programs, like the controversial draft on military-patriotic education, decisive action has already been taken. But for other pressing concerns, like the environmentally hazardous mining program to be undertaken in Amulsar, it is unclear whether citizens will get concrete answers until after snap elections take place. But that doesn’t stop people from cautiously expressing their hopes for the new country. Here are some local voices from different industries and backgrounds, expressing a range of sentiments.

Hopeful Expectations

Read more; https://armenianweekly.com/2018/05/31/local-voices-express-hopeful-expectations-and-cautious-skepticisms/