Kara Chobanyan: “I consider the peculiarity of women as a means of peace and men’s restraint”

WomenNet.am hold an interview with the candidate for deputy of the 8th place of the “Sasna Tsrer” PanArmenian party Kara Chobanyan. She says she never thought she would engage in politics, but the five-year-long struggle led her to the “Sasna Tsrer” party.

Born in 1966. She graduated from the Department of Geography of Yerevan State University and the Spanish Department of the Faculty of Romance Philology. Teaching at Kh. Abovyan Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute, YSU Geographical Department, Yerevan branch of Moscow State University of Tourism and Service. Since 2006 has been working in tourism and translation. She has published more than two dozen short stories and essays in “Garun” and “Narzis” magazines. 2011 The first book, which was followed by others, was released. She is a member of the Writers’ Union since 2013.

– Why did you decide to run?

– Still in 2013, I joined the political structure, called “Pre-Parliament”, and then reorganized as “Founding Parliament”. Then, the rebellion of Sasna Tsrer, I continued to support them, and recently the rebels were prevented, and the Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party was formed. I never thought about becoming a member of politics, being a member of a political party, but the stubborn and brutal struggle of these five years seemed to me as a natural way to the Sasna Tsrer party. Perhaps the battlefield was never overlooked and the fact that it was fired in the fight was the reason why my friends’ choices stopped when I discussed their candidacy. It was a difficult decision for me because I am one of the few lucky ones whose profession is both a  livelihood, and a supreme pleasure. But when I nominated, Zhirayr Sefilyan, a man who devoted his whole life to the homeland, said to me: “We understand that you have a job that you love, where you are dedicated, but you are not you able to dedicate your life to building statehood for a few years,” I thought for myself and eventually accepted the offer.

– In your estimation, is women’s influence visible in the Armenian political field?

– What has been happening so far cannot be considered a political field where not only women but also men have no influence, everything depends on the will of one person. It is early to talk about the influence of women in the political field. But I should gladly say about the great activity and influence of women in the civil field and I hope to see the same in the future in the political field.