Vache Sarkissian
"Azg" complains that the Armenian media and most politicians are too speculative in assessing the recent developments in the Nagorno -Karabakh peace process. At the heart of their "illogical" analyses is untrue information and their attitudes toward Robert Kocharian. "Hayots Ashkhar" targets representatives of the country's former authorities in its criticism of Kocharian's opponents. It says "the former regime, "which was ready to return Karabakh under Azerbaijani control, has no moral right to denounce Yerevan's efforts to reach a mutually acceptable settlement.
"Iravunk" says that by publicly defending Vartan Oskanian Kocharian confirmed the belief that the foreign minister's controversial statements reflect the official Armenian position on the issue. "Either Robert Kocharian is really intent on supporting a non-pro-Armenian solution or is goading political forces and the public in order to use a negative public opinion as an argument in Geneva." The latter option is fraught with danger because it would not be easy for him to mislead international mediators.
And if the former is the case, Kocharian must be forced into resignation as happened to his predecessor Levon Ter-Petrossian, the paper concludes.
"Yerkir" issues a similar warning to the Armenian leader. "It will take a lot of efforts to convince the people of the need for concessions. But maybe there is no necessity of doing that. The people and their vital interests are much more important than the fate of any official."
"Aravot" reveals the content of a draft statement by the Miasnutyun bloc that accuses the authorities of creating a "friendly" atmosphere around the gunmen that stormed the parliament in October 1999. The document was drawn up by members of the People's Party of Armenia (HZhK). If the HZhK's partner in the bloc, the Republican Party, refuses to back the accusations Miasnutyun will face another discord, making its future even more uncertain.
"Azg" says it would be surprised if the Republicans sign the statement. The paper has serious misgivings about the wisdom of issuing such a document, saying that it could destabilize the political situation in Armenia in the run-up to the Geneva talks.