"Judging by the internal political developments in Armenia, I don't see the cases that can bring about early elections. I think the elections will be regular," says Vazgen Manukian, of AZhM, in an interview with "Haykakan Zhamanak".
In his opinion, a fresh wave of poplar support for regime change is unlike to mount again. "It is difficult to tell the people every time that you should make a revolution, that through you some people come to power and usurp it, but you still should make a revolution. Meanwhile, the people feel cheated because they followed people who didn't have the potential they had expected from them. Therefore, when they stand up and talk about revolutions, I am not an ardent proponent of that, because people need time to mature to be able distinguish between 'wet and dry.'" According to Manukian, the opposition is now busy making this distinction, which he thinks is "very good".
Speaking of reforms, Manukian said that only the force that wields power can perform reforms, referring to Robert Kocharian as such a real force. "But Kocharian's mentality is different. His ideal is a well-known sovkhoz head in Azerbaijan who held his sovkhoz (state farm) in his fist," says Manukian. "Kocharian feels himself in the same position as that sovkhoz leader and knows that he must be strict with his brigade leaders. I am certain that Kocharian is sure that what he does is correct. Therefore, if he is so assured of that, what incentive does he have to launch reforms?"
According to the same paper, what is being outlined against the background of the statements made by "Zharangutyun" party leader Raffi Hovhannisian may be unprecedented. In the paper's view, while the opposition parties speak about the need for a democratic or national revolution and the pro-government parties keep attaching importance to stability, Raffi Hovhannisian is making a new proposal - the need for a democratic, national transformation of Armenia.
According to the daily "Hayastani Hanrapetutiun," the "Zharangutyun" party does not arouse hopes with calls for a revolution, and therefore it is supposed that a transformation is not a revolution. But exactly what it is and what actions it implies is unclear to the paper.
"Hayots Ashkharh" expresses the opinion that the milder the principle of political resistance, the stronger is the interest of radical figures in the superpowers. The paper thinks that "their spontaneous desires to compensate their failures with assistance from strong foreign sponsors are gradually turning into a unique worship of superpowers."
"Golos Armenii", informing its readers that more than a dozen parties considering themselves to be leftist are planning a joint gathering in July to announce the establishment of a new union, says that "our citizens have seen so many similar left-wing public-patriotic and communist blocs." But this one, according to the paper, in a sense will not be an ordinary one. The forces are rallying today only to support Serzh Sarkisian in the 2008 presidential elections, the paper concludes.
A Venice Commission meeting has confirmed the intermediate second conclusion regarding Armenia's constitutional reforms, Tigran Torosian, who participated in the meeting, tells "Aravot" in a phone conversation, adding that evaluations have not changed drastically as there are still no new changes. "Aravot" finds it likely that during its summer session the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will discuss Azerbaijan's fulfillment of its obligations to the Council of Europe and that the session agenda will also include an urgent discussion of the constitutional reforms in Armenia.
Shirak's Governor Romik Manukian, of the Armenian Revolutionary Party, tells "Haykakan Zhamanak" that "Orinats Yerkir" parliamentary faction member Hovhannes Markarian was tried in court years ago for stealing milk powder granted as humanitarian aid. The governor also discusses the biography of the faction's leader, Samvel Balasanian, dropping hints that he purchased Gyumri's brewery "at a laughably low price." The paper adds that the director of that brewery, Balasanyan's son-in-law, was appointed Shirak's Vice-Governor. "It can be imagined what kind of atmosphere is reigning in the province's regional administration," writes "Haykakan Zhamanak."
Asked whether he sees cooperation among the parties of the ruling coalition, Shirak's governor said: "I don't see that cooperation in my region anyway. There has never been this cooperation here and I personally don't think there will be any cooperation with these people."
(Hrach Melkumian)
In his opinion, a fresh wave of poplar support for regime change is unlike to mount again. "It is difficult to tell the people every time that you should make a revolution, that through you some people come to power and usurp it, but you still should make a revolution. Meanwhile, the people feel cheated because they followed people who didn't have the potential they had expected from them. Therefore, when they stand up and talk about revolutions, I am not an ardent proponent of that, because people need time to mature to be able distinguish between 'wet and dry.'" According to Manukian, the opposition is now busy making this distinction, which he thinks is "very good".
Speaking of reforms, Manukian said that only the force that wields power can perform reforms, referring to Robert Kocharian as such a real force. "But Kocharian's mentality is different. His ideal is a well-known sovkhoz head in Azerbaijan who held his sovkhoz (state farm) in his fist," says Manukian. "Kocharian feels himself in the same position as that sovkhoz leader and knows that he must be strict with his brigade leaders. I am certain that Kocharian is sure that what he does is correct. Therefore, if he is so assured of that, what incentive does he have to launch reforms?"
According to the same paper, what is being outlined against the background of the statements made by "Zharangutyun" party leader Raffi Hovhannisian may be unprecedented. In the paper's view, while the opposition parties speak about the need for a democratic or national revolution and the pro-government parties keep attaching importance to stability, Raffi Hovhannisian is making a new proposal - the need for a democratic, national transformation of Armenia.
According to the daily "Hayastani Hanrapetutiun," the "Zharangutyun" party does not arouse hopes with calls for a revolution, and therefore it is supposed that a transformation is not a revolution. But exactly what it is and what actions it implies is unclear to the paper.
"Hayots Ashkharh" expresses the opinion that the milder the principle of political resistance, the stronger is the interest of radical figures in the superpowers. The paper thinks that "their spontaneous desires to compensate their failures with assistance from strong foreign sponsors are gradually turning into a unique worship of superpowers."
"Golos Armenii", informing its readers that more than a dozen parties considering themselves to be leftist are planning a joint gathering in July to announce the establishment of a new union, says that "our citizens have seen so many similar left-wing public-patriotic and communist blocs." But this one, according to the paper, in a sense will not be an ordinary one. The forces are rallying today only to support Serzh Sarkisian in the 2008 presidential elections, the paper concludes.
A Venice Commission meeting has confirmed the intermediate second conclusion regarding Armenia's constitutional reforms, Tigran Torosian, who participated in the meeting, tells "Aravot" in a phone conversation, adding that evaluations have not changed drastically as there are still no new changes. "Aravot" finds it likely that during its summer session the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will discuss Azerbaijan's fulfillment of its obligations to the Council of Europe and that the session agenda will also include an urgent discussion of the constitutional reforms in Armenia.
Shirak's Governor Romik Manukian, of the Armenian Revolutionary Party, tells "Haykakan Zhamanak" that "Orinats Yerkir" parliamentary faction member Hovhannes Markarian was tried in court years ago for stealing milk powder granted as humanitarian aid. The governor also discusses the biography of the faction's leader, Samvel Balasanian, dropping hints that he purchased Gyumri's brewery "at a laughably low price." The paper adds that the director of that brewery, Balasanyan's son-in-law, was appointed Shirak's Vice-Governor. "It can be imagined what kind of atmosphere is reigning in the province's regional administration," writes "Haykakan Zhamanak."
Asked whether he sees cooperation among the parties of the ruling coalition, Shirak's governor said: "I don't see that cooperation in my region anyway. There has never been this cooperation here and I personally don't think there will be any cooperation with these people."
(Hrach Melkumian)