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Press Review


“In modern-day Armenia, revolution is very rapidly becoming a lucrative business,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” “That business begins flourishing especially in the run-up to parliamentary elections when appropriate projects are being implemented, all kinds of seminars, round tables and so on are being held. The sums invested in all of that keep increasing. One has to be quick enough to earn them.”

“Aravot” says Armenia’s leadership and opposition “deserve each other.” “Everything has already been said about the current authorities,” says the paper. “Over the past nine years they have failed to solve the Karabakh problem, have failed to improve relations with Turkey, have closed down A1+, and, continuing their predecessors’ worst traditions, have rendered the vote rigging mechanism and the clan-based oligarchic system more sophisticated.”

Turning to the opposition, “Aravot” complains that its leaders react furiously to any criticism which they usually brand as “black PR” or a “government order.” “There are two reasons for the opposition behavior. First, it is an ordinary blackmail. Second, opposition leaders are deeply convinced that they are so perfect, flawless and right that only opponents or malevolent people can criticize them.”

“Diplomatic sources” tell “Iravunk” that Robert Kocharian raised the possibility of his third term in office at the January 24 meeting in Sochi with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The official Kremlin is keeping silent for the moment, and Moscow’s opinion about Kocharian being named president for a third term remains unknown,” says the paper.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports that the presidential election in Karabakh, which was originally scheduled for June, will be postponed by one month. “This development is directly connected with Armenia’s May parliamentary elections,” says the paper. “The NKR authorities have serious expectations from their results.”

“Hayk” alleges that the chairman of Armenia’s Central Election Commission, Garegin Azarian, will declare shortly after the closure of polls on May 12 that Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party has won the election with 38 percent of the vote. “The Republicans will get 31 percent of the vote, Dashnaktsutyun only 9 percent, while the opposition 8 percent,” it claims, citing unnamed “sources close to the presidential administration.” “Other parties should get between 12 and 14 percent of the vote.” The paper says the Republicans are unhappy with this scenario and are “saving no effort” to alter it.

“Zhamanak Yerevan” reports that opposition leader Vazgen Manukian is looking to form an electoral alliance with Stepan Demirchian’s People’s Party of Armenia. The paper says Manukian has proposed that the two leaders toss a coin to decide who will top their would-be joint electoral list. “Demirchian was simply stunned by that proposal,” it adds.

(Atom Markarian)
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