“Hraparak” describes the Tuesday meeting of the government during which all members of the cabinet wore military camouflage as “another theater show” staged by Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian. “He did the same thing also when he was just appointed prime minister. Then he ordered everyone to wear military uniforms trying to show that he feels determined to fight monopolies and oligopolies.” “Wasn’t it clear what [Diaspora Minister] Hranush Hakobian and [Culture Minister] Hasmik Poghosian could do in the event of war besides organizing “homecoming” and “cultural” events as a result of which the country, however, is being abandoned by its people and culture is getting ruined?” the paper commented.
“There is also another important circumstance here: it is officials who as young men avoided serving in the army in every possible way that have assumed the image of military men,” notes “Zhoghovurd”, adding: “Some officials yesterday also learned how to shoot. As they say, better late than never.”
“Aravot” comments on the pledges by Armenian authorities to continue to maintain close relations with the European Union: “The impression is that we have demolished with our own hands a mansion and are now trying to build at least a hut in the case when there wasn’t even a need to demolish that big house. We could have continued our cooperation with the Customs Union and not at all at the expense of the Association Agreement with the EU.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” quotes Vigen Sarkisian, the chief of the president’s staff, as acknowledging that one of the proposals sent to the commission on constitutional reforms concerns the reduction of the permanent residence qualification for presidential candidates. In this connection the paper writes: “Some within the authorities talk about the possible presidential run [in 2018] by London-based former prime minister Armen Sarkissian, who recently was re-appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom. Now he is not qualified as he has not been a permanent resident in Armenia for 10 years, but if the threshold is lowered, the problem will be solved.”
(Heghine Buniatian)
“There is also another important circumstance here: it is officials who as young men avoided serving in the army in every possible way that have assumed the image of military men,” notes “Zhoghovurd”, adding: “Some officials yesterday also learned how to shoot. As they say, better late than never.”
“Aravot” comments on the pledges by Armenian authorities to continue to maintain close relations with the European Union: “The impression is that we have demolished with our own hands a mansion and are now trying to build at least a hut in the case when there wasn’t even a need to demolish that big house. We could have continued our cooperation with the Customs Union and not at all at the expense of the Association Agreement with the EU.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” quotes Vigen Sarkisian, the chief of the president’s staff, as acknowledging that one of the proposals sent to the commission on constitutional reforms concerns the reduction of the permanent residence qualification for presidential candidates. In this connection the paper writes: “Some within the authorities talk about the possible presidential run [in 2018] by London-based former prime minister Armen Sarkissian, who recently was re-appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom. Now he is not qualified as he has not been a permanent resident in Armenia for 10 years, but if the threshold is lowered, the problem will be solved.”
(Heghine Buniatian)