“Hraparak” says that further political developments in Armenia depend on what the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) will announce at its May 31 rally. “Several theories about the HAK’s further actions are suggested. On the other hand, it is interesting to know what scenarios exist in the government camp because there have been no reports about that,” writes the paper. What is clear, it says, is that “there will be no deadly violence in Armenia anymore because our state is failing to digest the last, March 1 [2008] violence.”
Eduard Sharmazanov, the spokesman for the ruling Republican Party (HHK), tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that the stabilization of the political situation in Armenia will not end with the latest general amnesty declared by the authorities. He says the authorities intend to continue their “reforms.” “A government is destined for failure when it thinks it knows everything and doesn’t need,” he says.
“Iravunk” asks Galust Sahakian, the HHK’s parliamentary leader, to comment speculation that former President Robert Kocharian may stand in next year’s parliamentary elections on the ticket of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). Sahakian declines to discuss implications of Kocharian’s possible return to the political arena. “At the same time I find this talk natural because the society wants to get answers to all questions today,” he adds. “I see nothing wrong with that because the more active the society becomes, the more positive assessments the forthcoming elections will receive.”
“It was presumed that Robert Kocharian’s support base is Prosperous Armenia,” Smbat Ayvazian, a prominent member of the HAK, tells “Zhamanak.” “But after the BHK signed the coalition agreement [in February,] the outside world saw that Kocharian’s positions are quite weak, that he is alone and has no force to rely on. Dashnaktsutyun did not rush to take Kocharian under its protection.” Ayvazian says Kocharian is seriously worried about government gestures to the HAK and will soon issue warnings to President Serzh Sarkisian. “Robert Kocharian has no place on the political stage,” claims the opposition figure.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” says Thursday’s joint statement by the U.S., French and Russian presidents on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict “doesn’t seem too bad for us.” “First of all, it is evident that their call for preparing the populations for peace is primarily addressed to Azerbaijan because it’s the latter that constantly threatens war,” comments the paper. “Secondly, the Armenian side has accepted the main settlement principles. So have the Azerbaijanis. The question is how each side interprets them.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)