“Aravot” carries an interview with Ivlian Khaindrava, a leader of opposition Republican Party of Georgia which signed last week a joint statement with the opposition Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) and Azerbaijan’s Musavat party. Khaindrava dismisses criticism of the HHSh voiced by Armenian pro-government politicians. “I think it is crystal clear that that is political speculation,” he says. “By the same token, Dashnaktsutyun could be accused of God knows what because of going to Baku and participating in a Socialist International meeting there.”
Interviewed by “Iravunk,” Davit Babayan, a spokesman for Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakian, disapproves of the latest parliament debates in Yerevan over whether or not Armenia should recognize Karabakh as an independent state. He says the fact that the Armenian parliament always avoids voting on the matter “somewhat devaluates that issue extremely important to all Armenians.” “Armenia can recognize Artsakh’s independence at an expedient moment, within a short period of time,” says Babayan. “But in order for that to happen, there have to be very serious grounds, political developments that would leave no alternative. That is why I believe it is premature to come up with such initiatives.”
Alexandros Petersen, a senior analyst with the U.S. Atlantic Council, tells “Zhamanak” that prospects for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are very murky at present. “In this sense, Washington can not have reason to believe that the process could resume in the nearly future,” he says. “There is strong opposition to that process in Turkey and it is now stronger than it was one year ago … Nonetheless, U.S. policy-makers think that a reset in the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process must stem from the interests of Yerevan and Ankara.” But, he says, they will be far more cautious in sponsoring “a second phase” of that process.
Speaking to “Hayots Ashkhar,” a spokesman for Gagik Tsarukian confirms that his Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will be aiming for an absolute majority in Armenia’s next parliament in the 2012 elections. Khachik Gevorgian says the BHK does acknowledge that President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK) is now Armenia’s “number one political force” in terms of popular support and political clout. “However, a competitive election presupposes that election results can not be predetermined in advance,” adds Gevorgian.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
Interviewed by “Iravunk,” Davit Babayan, a spokesman for Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakian, disapproves of the latest parliament debates in Yerevan over whether or not Armenia should recognize Karabakh as an independent state. He says the fact that the Armenian parliament always avoids voting on the matter “somewhat devaluates that issue extremely important to all Armenians.” “Armenia can recognize Artsakh’s independence at an expedient moment, within a short period of time,” says Babayan. “But in order for that to happen, there have to be very serious grounds, political developments that would leave no alternative. That is why I believe it is premature to come up with such initiatives.”
Alexandros Petersen, a senior analyst with the U.S. Atlantic Council, tells “Zhamanak” that prospects for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are very murky at present. “In this sense, Washington can not have reason to believe that the process could resume in the nearly future,” he says. “There is strong opposition to that process in Turkey and it is now stronger than it was one year ago … Nonetheless, U.S. policy-makers think that a reset in the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process must stem from the interests of Yerevan and Ankara.” But, he says, they will be far more cautious in sponsoring “a second phase” of that process.
Speaking to “Hayots Ashkhar,” a spokesman for Gagik Tsarukian confirms that his Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will be aiming for an absolute majority in Armenia’s next parliament in the 2012 elections. Khachik Gevorgian says the BHK does acknowledge that President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK) is now Armenia’s “number one political force” in terms of popular support and political clout. “However, a competitive election presupposes that election results can not be predetermined in advance,” adds Gevorgian.
(Aghasi Yenokian)