"La Plus Belle Des Ruses Du Diable"

There has been much ado about Civilitas and Oskanyan recently. I have written numerous pieces on Oskanyan, on his role in, and persistent justifications of, March 1, on his duplicity, and truly truly impressive attempts to reformulate history while promoting himself. More to come, of course.

But in the meantime, some food for thought:

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

That’s from The Usual Suspects, but according to Wikipedia, it actually comes from a very short piece by Baudelaire, Le Joueur généreux. An English translation is available here.

« Mes chers frères, n’oubliez jamais, quand vous entendrez vanter le progrès des lumières, que la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu’il n’existe pas ! »

Read the piece, in whatever language.

Caveat Emptor

I have not posted for quite a while, though I have had much to say. Some thoughts and ideas came and went, even though they were good. Some never fully matured, and some became overripe by the time i sat down to post.
Much has changed in the past 2 months. And I still have much to read and ponder.

But some things, some impression, some gut feelings, do not change no matter how many times I read them and think about them. Think about them and read about them. They, nay, this one thought I have, does not seem to pass. It is neither the most important, nor the most relevant.
It is part of a larger picture, story, reality, and truth, that remains to be written. Despite the time, it has yet to pass from my thoughts.

And so, here it is- about VartanOskanian.com, the biography section. And with only a small objective introduction, and one small comment.
There are three pictures on the biography section. The first picture was one with his family. The last picture was one of him at the UN (or similar such international meeting) with some familiar faces.

Here is the middle picture:


And here is my small comment:

Really??????? You're got some f**k*ng cojones posting that picture.

This is no longer a short comment.

I suppose it is eerily, fatefully appropriate, that in an attempt to endear himself to... whomever.. in the aftermath and ongoing turbulence of the March 1 he continues to deny... the only picture of himself in Armenia, with any government of Armenia, is with LTP, Vano, and Vazgen.

Oskanyan continued to, and increased his work with Kocharyan after October 27, 1997.
He was Kocharyan's face on March 1, 2008.
He continued to work with Kocharyan after March 1, 2008.

Where is his picture with Kocharyan? Where is any significant reference to his time spent in Kocharyan's administration.

Read it as you will. We all do. There are so many ways to read this.

Caveat Emptor

"Armenia's Lost Spring"

On Civilitas, Oskanyan, and Meghri...

Now, I've put up a number of posts in the past about my, shall we say skepticism, regarding Oskanyan, and Civilitas. Putting aside the rampant rumors that Oskanyan wants to, and wanted to, run for president, I've commented mostly on the "irony" of the organization, Civilitas. That is, the selective mutism of the organization regarding the true issues in Armenia today, from the existence of political prisoners, to beating of youth, to the eviction of individuals from their homes, just blocks from the posh Civilitas office- not to mention the absolute silence regarding protest walks that happened just under Civilitas' nose on Northern Avenue. I suppose it is much more comfortable to sit in a nice chair and have a nice debate about what needs to be done and then write a memo about it, but ignore the hard realities that exist... especially when Oskanyan helped create them. Remember, Oskanyan had quite the position of power during Kocharyan's regime, culminating in being his voice, his face, during the March 1 events.

So what's new? There is a blog called Septemberi21, written by Vahagn Ghukasyan, which just recently touched on this topic (Ghukasyan has written a number of booklets, one of which I have the pleasure of owning, on the actions of the corrupt Armenian regime, including October 27).

Ghukasyan, among others, finds himself the recipient of emails from Civilitas - emails with nice, narrative opening letters inviting the recipient to follow links to statements or websites about the activities of Civilitas. And, Ghukasyan's post explains WHY he refuses to follow these links. Civilitas is associated with Oskanyan, he writes, and he considers Oskanyan a traitor. A traitor because of his double-speak, his hypocrisy, and his lies, regarding the potential trade of Meghri, and just how seriously it was considered during the time of Kocharyan-Oskanyan...

...[and this part I'm adding in myself] double-speak, hypocrisy and lies that were a means to an end, to a deal that would serve not the Republic of Armenia, not Nagorno-Kharabakh, not the citizens of Armenia or of NK, but a deal that would serve a corrupt few who had taken Armenia hostage, for their own personal gain...

On another tangent, the list of board members has some interesting names on it. I wonder, did those honorary board members do their research, before joining?

Hopefully every Flow will have an Ebb, and Kocharyan will go with that Ebb

Just the other day, Oskanyan (of the Kocharyan and previously the LTP governments, and now of Civilitas fame) gave an interview to A1plus and Capital papers, the a1plus video is available online, as are articles written about it (lragir tert).
A1plus then went to HHK Chair Razmik Zohrabyan, and asked him what he had to say about Oskanyan's interview (article has video). I dont know if a1plus knew what to expect, but both interviews have some great segments, and the combination is outstanding. I'll try to keep it to the true gems, but there's lots in there to work with.

Let's start with Oskanyan. As Zohrabyan points out in his interview, and many have pointed out to to date, Oskanyan manages to act, with a straight face I might add, as though he has nothing to do with the present regime, how it came to be, and the policies it is continuing and fulfilling now. His selective memory as the great objective benevolent ethicist allows him the following conversation with the interviewer (I)(paraphrased, starting at 16:15):

I: What can be done in this situation, by the people, to change the situation. If the number of people protesting starts growing at all, they are not only beaten, but they may also be fired upon- we have seen that. What is the way out, what are the options, how do we move forward?

Oskanyan: I have given a general ideological framework about that. Those involved have to think about that... We all have to think about that. I do not have a formula for that. But I know that this cannot continue this way, something has to change. I have hope that, in the end, we will be able to find a way...

So, Mr. Oskanyan, what is it that you are doing to help the people achieve that change? Did making Kocharyan's announcements for him on television in March, 2008, help progress? Or was it the watering of your eyes, or did you say you shed tears, for what happened? Have you worked to free the political prisoners in Armenia, and I have not seen it? Have you been busy defending those who are being rendered homeless on Byuzant street, right by your office on Northern Avenue, because I have not seen that either. Or maybe you are visiting the youth in the hospital when they are beaten by the police and cadres of Bazaz?

And before I move on (since I promised to be short-winded) I can't resist this one - the Tert article quotes Oskanyan as calling the regime change of 1998 "A coup." If it was a coup, why were you part of it for ten years, or even one minute?

On to Mr. Zohrabyan. He actually does quite a good job in commenting on Oskanyan, and being surprised at just how easily Oskanyan is able to distance himself, in just 2 years, from a regime he worked with for 10 years. Oskanyan was a "teammmate," he notes. These policies, this framework of action on NK and related affairs in general, were built by a team which included Kocharyan and Oskanyan - why is Oskanyan criticizing them now?

Mr. Zohrabyan, however, seems to live in another reality. The events of March 1, 2008 were "minor clashes." You see, he explains, this type of things happens all around the world, and opposition and government blame each other, and there are unnecessary victims, but no one ever knows the truth - Smooth, Mr. Zohrabyan! And things in Armenia, they're just fine (quotes from a1plus):

“I see no grounds for a power change. Moreover, I see no political crisis in the country while Oskanian says the moment for a power change has matured. Thanks God, the minor clashes of March 1, 2010 are left behind,” said Razmik Zohrabyan.

“I cannot understand what Mr. Oskanian is displeased with. Why should our teammate raise the issue of power change?”

These two do seem to be at odds with each other, but in the end, I don't see either of them as being in touch with the reality most Armenians in Armenia are living each day.

But to get back to the "at odds" business. Word has it that Oskanyan has always been close to Kocharyan, as is, by the by, Dodi Gago. And talk of a Kocharyan return has ebbed and flowed since he left. And recently, Dodi Gago was quite critical of this regime, as now was Oskanyan. And the ARF, close to Kocharyan since they both sold out to each other during his first term, continues their half-hearted criticism (though this is no surprise). And Armenian Times recently published a piece about an argument between Kocharyan and Sargsyan. And lets not forget Kocharyan's recent international travels.

One has to wonder if at some point, the flow will happen, with no ebb, and keep going - and we will wake up and Kocharyan will have some government position...

[pics are from a1plus]