The passing of a statesman

Published: Saturday March 31, 2007

Andranik Margarian, 55, a Soviet-era pro-independence activist who went to prison for his beliefs and went on to become independent Armenia's longest-serving prime minister, was a political leader who had earned the affection and respect of the Armenian people.

He is remembered for his humanity, for his role in maintaining stability during difficult times, and for his contribution to Armenia's economic progress during his term as prime minister.

As a young man in the Soviet Union, he went with his secret comrades in arms to the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Tzitzernakaberd, and by the eternal flame took an oath to struggle for Armenian independence. He upheld his promise through the 1970s and 1980s.

When Azerbaijan started a war to crush Nagorno-Karabakh's independence, Mr. Margarian helped organize volunteer units in Armenia, worked to coordinate aid, and, on several occasions, participated in the actual fighting.

His fellow veteran of the Soviet-era independence movement, Ashot Navasardian, formed the opposition Republican Party of Armenia in 1992. By the time Mr. Margarian took over as leader, on Mr. Navasardian's death in late 1997, the party was part of the government's majority coalition.

Finding that there was ideological affinity between the Republicans and the Karabakh veterans that had organized themselves under the Yerkrapah (Protectors of the Land) banner, he formed an electoral alliance with that group, led by Vazken Sargsian. To bring the group under the banner of his party, Mr. Margarian ceded the party's top post to Mr. Sargsian, who went on to become prime minister. This move helped maintain long-term stability in the country.

On October 27, 1999, gunmen entered the chamber of the National Assembly and assassinated Mr. Sargsian, Speaker Karen Demirchian, and others. The tragic event had the potential to lead to further violence, as recriminations began. Mr. Margarian is credited with being a calming force, insisting on patience and dialogue.

Several months later, President Robert Kocharian invited Mr. Margarian to become prime minister. He inherited a multibillion dram deficit, teachers and other government employees who had not been paid in months, and a dejected country.

A soft-spoken man, he did not change the mood by lofty rhetoric. But under his management, surpluses and robust economic growth accompanied a return to normalcy.

Mr. Margarian's background was in computer systems. He insisted on long-term planning with benchmarks along the way. On his watch, the Armenian government adopted various long-term plans, including a poverty reduction strategy and a strategy to develop the information-technology sector.
Till his death, Mr. Margarian lived in his apartment in a multistory building in the working-class district of Avan. He was often seen playing backgammon with his neighbors. A hard worker, he was also fond of feasting, drinking, and good company. His death is mourned by his wife, their three children, five grandchildren, his friends, his rivals, the people of Armenia, and Armenians around the world.

A young patriotic man who became an activist, Andranik Margarian carried his passion forward and developed into a statesman who helped build the independent Armenia for which he fought all his life. He is an inspiration to all of us to work harder to forge a brighter future for free and independent Armenia.