“Yerkir” says that the events of the past two months leave the impression of a “political earthquake” in Armenia. “The entire public has been watching the developments spiced up with semi-political and gossip-based comments,” complains the paper. It says that this has distracted many people from the country’s main problem: the difficult socioeconomic plight of the population.
Interviewed by “Haykakan Zhamanak,” Davit Harutiunian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on legal affairs, defends the track record of President Serzh Sarkisian and his coalition government. “We have a quite serious reform program and the [amended] Election Code is only part of it,” says the former justice minister. “Our next step will be to solve the issue of transparency of political party financing so that the entire public knows where the parties are financed from, how those financial resources come into existence and are spent.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” says that the Armenian National Congress (HAK) is now busy stepping up its campaign of antigovernment demonstrations, whereas other opposition forces, notably the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), are “doing nothing.” “That party only tries to remind everyone of its existence from time to time with an eye towards forthcoming elections,” claims the pro-HAK paper. “But it is still unable to come up with any argument as to why the people should remember it.” As for Raffi Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, the paper says it is now busy attacking the HAK. “As is usually the case with that party, the purpose is not clear,” it says.
“Aravot” dismisses the “artificial” notion that Armenia’s leading opposition forces should unite, saying that it is the result of “government propaganda.” “Obviously, the HAK, Zharangutyun and Dashnaktsutyun have different electorates, and if the leaders of these parties mistakenly decide to merge, they all will lose support,” editorializes the paper. It says that many supporters of one of these parties will never vote for the two others and would rather boycott elections.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
Interviewed by “Haykakan Zhamanak,” Davit Harutiunian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on legal affairs, defends the track record of President Serzh Sarkisian and his coalition government. “We have a quite serious reform program and the [amended] Election Code is only part of it,” says the former justice minister. “Our next step will be to solve the issue of transparency of political party financing so that the entire public knows where the parties are financed from, how those financial resources come into existence and are spent.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” says that the Armenian National Congress (HAK) is now busy stepping up its campaign of antigovernment demonstrations, whereas other opposition forces, notably the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), are “doing nothing.” “That party only tries to remind everyone of its existence from time to time with an eye towards forthcoming elections,” claims the pro-HAK paper. “But it is still unable to come up with any argument as to why the people should remember it.” As for Raffi Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, the paper says it is now busy attacking the HAK. “As is usually the case with that party, the purpose is not clear,” it says.
“Aravot” dismisses the “artificial” notion that Armenia’s leading opposition forces should unite, saying that it is the result of “government propaganda.” “Obviously, the HAK, Zharangutyun and Dashnaktsutyun have different electorates, and if the leaders of these parties mistakenly decide to merge, they all will lose support,” editorializes the paper. It says that many supporters of one of these parties will never vote for the two others and would rather boycott elections.
(Aghasi Yenokian)