“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” says the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) wants early presidential elections to take place in mid-October because that would require President Serzh Sarkisian to tender his resignation in the beginning of September. “By setting such a time frame, the Congress has made clear that negotiations [with the government] must end by September,” explains the pro-HAK daily. “So the authorities will hardly manage to stall for time.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” quotes Davit Harutiunian, the head of the government team in the talks, as criticizing an extensive statement issued by the HAK on Tuesday. “Parties to a dialogue must not talk to each other in the language of written statements,” he says. “This fact calls into question the mandate of HAK representatives participating in the dialogue. I think we arrived at a common conclusion on this issue to the effect that from now on the parties will present all issues at the negotiation table.” Harutiunian also says that the parties on Tuesday could not agree on television coverage of their meetings. He insists that HAK representatives are able to disseminate their views through TV and radio stations.
“Yerkir” says Tuesday’s meeting between the two sides revealed that the governing coalition too has a “concrete proposal” on the agenda of the dialogue. Namely, “the formulation of rules ensuring civilized competition aimed at the proper conduct of elections.” The paper says this contradicts President Serzh Sarkisian’s recent statements on issues that he thinks should be discussed with the HAK. “This fact demonstrates that the whole dialogue is solely aimed at the conduct of elections and that the authorities and the opposition have nothing else to discuss,” it says. The question is whether they will be talking about regular or pre-term elections, concludes “Yerkir.”
“Aravot” reports that a grocery store in the central Armenian town of Hrazdan has misled local residents into thinking that it is part of a supermarket chain owned by Samvel Aleksanian, one of Armenia’s wealthiest businesspeople. The paper points out that Aleksanian himself has for years been accused of being engaged in similarly “dishonest competition.” “Now Mr. Aleksanian has a chance to feel on his own skin what dishonest competition is,” it says.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” quotes Davit Harutiunian, the head of the government team in the talks, as criticizing an extensive statement issued by the HAK on Tuesday. “Parties to a dialogue must not talk to each other in the language of written statements,” he says. “This fact calls into question the mandate of HAK representatives participating in the dialogue. I think we arrived at a common conclusion on this issue to the effect that from now on the parties will present all issues at the negotiation table.” Harutiunian also says that the parties on Tuesday could not agree on television coverage of their meetings. He insists that HAK representatives are able to disseminate their views through TV and radio stations.
“Yerkir” says Tuesday’s meeting between the two sides revealed that the governing coalition too has a “concrete proposal” on the agenda of the dialogue. Namely, “the formulation of rules ensuring civilized competition aimed at the proper conduct of elections.” The paper says this contradicts President Serzh Sarkisian’s recent statements on issues that he thinks should be discussed with the HAK. “This fact demonstrates that the whole dialogue is solely aimed at the conduct of elections and that the authorities and the opposition have nothing else to discuss,” it says. The question is whether they will be talking about regular or pre-term elections, concludes “Yerkir.”
“Aravot” reports that a grocery store in the central Armenian town of Hrazdan has misled local residents into thinking that it is part of a supermarket chain owned by Samvel Aleksanian, one of Armenia’s wealthiest businesspeople. The paper points out that Aleksanian himself has for years been accused of being engaged in similarly “dishonest competition.” “Now Mr. Aleksanian has a chance to feel on his own skin what dishonest competition is,” it says.
(Aghasi Yenokian)