“Zhoghovurd” is disappointed with the Armenian government’s failure so far to act on its threats to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence. “Yerevan is bowing to external pressures even before starting the process of Artsakh’s recognition, thereby making it meaningless right from the beginning,” claims the paper. It says that the government should have at least discussed a corresponding opposition bill in greater detail before formally evaluating it on Thursday.
“Zhamanak” notes that Russia is the only foreign state that quickly reacted to the Armenian recognition bill through Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov. “It is hard to tell whether Moscow is unhappy with Yerevan’s move or is simply washing its hands vis-à-vis Baku and whether Yerevan coordinated the move with Moscow or does not trust Moscow anymore after the four-day war [in Karabakh,]” writes the paper.
“Hraparak” is also critical of the Armenian government’s “fuzzy” stance on Karabakh’s recognition that has long been demanded by some Armenian opposition parties. The paper says that even now Yerevan is in no rush to recognize Karabakh.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” says that President Serzh Sarkisian delivered a “quite nervous” speech at a meeting with members of his advisory Public Council earlier this week. “The main thrust of the speech was that he is not so weak as to heed outsiders’ calls and dissolve the National Assembly, declare martial law and so on,” writes the paper. “Frankly speaking, we do not remember anyone advising Serzh Sarkisian to declare martial law.” Sarkisian also made clear that that we will not embark on mass sackings, prosecutions or dispossessions of senior Armenian officials in connection with the Karabakh escalation. The paper says he thereby assured his loyalists that their personal fortunes are not at risk.
(Tigran Avetisian)