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Press Review


“Zhamanak” says it has become a “sad tradition” for sacked officials to make scandalous revelations about their superiors. “As long as a person holds a post – and therefore the capacity to act and prove something – his voice isn’t heard and the result isn’t seen. Once removed from office, he blames the president of the republic, the prime minister, mafia, etc.”

Albert Bazeyan, the former Yerevan mayor who has made similar accusations since his dismissal, is asked by “Iravunk” to comment on this argument. He explains that he could not publicly criticize the government while in office but always raised the issue with the country’s leaders. Bazeyan also believes that corruption can not be eradicated in a single government can not be.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” quotes opposition leader Ashot Manucharian as commending Artashes Geghamian for his severe criticism of Robert Kocharian’s staffing policy voiced on Monday. This, according to Manucharian, dispels doubts about Geghamian’s opposition credentials. “From now on it is clear that cooperation of forces that are ready to revolt against Kocharian’s destructive policy will be put on a stable footing,” he says. Manucharian’s National Accord Front has been holding rallies in various parts of the country to collect signatures in support of the president’s resignation.

“Aravot” finds no logical explanation for the continued political alliance of the Republican and People’s parties. It calls the existence of two mutually hostile parties within a single bloc a “schizophrenia.”

“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports on the new row in the once opposition National Democratic Union (AZhM). Despite overwhelming support of the party’s grass roots structures, Vazgen Manukian is increasingly challenged by most members of the AZhM board, including Minister for State Property David Vartanian. The paper links their defiance to Manukian’s activities as head of the ad hoc parliamentary commission investigating alleged abuses in the telecommunications sector. It says Manukian’s resolve to expose the dubious deals of the past apparently does not sit well with many senior government officials, including Vartanian.

“Yerkir” continues to make its case against the recently formed Armenian-Turkish reconciliation commission. “While Turkey continues to talk to us on the NGO level, other influential countries of the region primarily develop stable and far-reaching ties with Armenia.” There is therefore no need for Yerevan to fear international isolation and make overtures to Ankara. The authorities should continue to stick to what the paper describes as “pro-Armenian Realpolitik.”

“President Robert Kocharian is very assertive, he won’t cede a single piece of land to the enemy,” Kocharian’s chief military adviser, General Gurgen Dalibaltayan, said recently at a meeting with local people in Javakhetia, according to “Hayots Ashkhar.” Commenting on the Azerbaijani threats to resume hostilities in Karabakh, Dalibaltayan said: “Our rivals have a very short memory and have already forgotten about 1992-1994 when they were asking Armenia to effect a ceasefire. We don’t want a war, but let them make no noise. If they take up machine guns, so will do we. But if they again ask for a ceasefire we won’t repeat the previous mistake.”

(Vache Sarkisian)
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