Vache Sarkisian
Pro-government papers attack the HZhK and the Hayastan parliamentary group for the previous day's statement accusing the authorities of hiding the truth about the parliament shootings. It is a "text that says nothing," writes "Hayastani Hanrapetutyun." The signatories do not give any names, which "rather disseminates uncertainty and mistrust than expresses concern.""Hayots Ashkhar" says the document is exceptional "in terms of containing unlimited nonsense on a limited space." "If you know something say it," the paper tells HZhK and Yerkrapah leaders. "Give concrete names. Who is keen to defend the terrorists? Who is helping them? If the signatories don't answer these questions they must be sued for lying, slandering, forming a poisonous atmosphere and subversion."
"Aravot" says the statement underwent major changes before it was released. The signatories omitted a passage on Armenian parties' failure to give a "moral and political assessment" to the parliament killings. They also removed the word "authorities" from the sentence accusing unnamed politicians of effectively condoning the shootings. Yet even after that the Republican Party (HHK) refused to sign the document.
"The HZhK and the Republicans have shown that they are not united even on the issues related to the October 27 case," writes "Yerkir." The creation of an alliance between the HZhK and the opposition Hanrapetutyun party now seems even more likely.
Another big topic of the day is the turmoil in the Russia diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Its former head, Archbishop Tiran Kyureghian, has announced that he and his supporters will no longer recognize the authority of Catholicos Garegin II and will form their own religious organization. The Armenian media's reaction to the extraordinary move is overwhelmingly negative.
"Hayots Ashkhar" denounces the top cleric, saying that his personal ambitions and interests are at the heart of the looming split.
"Azg" alleges bluntly that Kyureghian enjoys the support of ethnic Armenian "representatives of [Moscow's] criminal underworld." The archbishop's decision to break ranks amounts to an "overt revolt against not only the Armenian Patriarch, the National Ecclesiastical Assembly and the Mother See of Saint Echmiadzin but also the centuries-old traditions and rules of the Armenian Apostolic Church."
Kyureghian obviously risks being excommunicated by Garegin but does not seem to be concerned about such prospect, reports "Haykakan Zhamanak." He is determined to continue to defy the Catholicos's orders. Official Echmiadzin has not commented on Kyureghian's move yet, apparently due to Garegin's absence.
"Aravot" does not share Robert Kocharian's optimism regarding the results of the New York conference on investment opportunities in Armenia. Similar forums in the past did not lead to an investment boom. This time around the only difference is that the conference was organized by the World Bank and the US government. The paper finds this fact positive, but says Kocharian's personal assurances will not suffice to woo potential investors. "Foreign investors are not stupid. They will not rush to invest money into the economy of a developing country just because they were asked by the head of that state who promises to personally guarantee their investments." What matters to them most is the rule of law.