The Armenian opposition, which on Wednesday suspended its campaign of anti-government demonstrations, is criticized even by those newspapers that are not quite sympathetic to Robert Kocharian. In a commentary titled “Bazeyan has become unbearable,” “Haykakan Zhamanak” says the chairman of the Hanrapetutyun party and other opposition leaders have opted for a “ludicrous tactics” of avoiding direct attacks on Kocharian’s regime. It says the opposition’s move followed Kocharian’s warning that it should not take “irresponsible” actions. “It is obvious that the authorities will like the opposition’s decision not to hold more demonstrations,” the paper writes.
“Aravot” also does not hide its disappointment, saying: “The opposition is trying to persuade us that it still exists.”
Meanwhile, one of the most popular opposition figures, the HZhK’s Stepan Demirchian does not mince his words to describe the current authorities, in an interview with “Orran.” “The government’s greatest sin is that it is splitting the society and parties, and, having no popular support, is endlessly engineering political intrigues,” Demirchian says. He says the government views “confrontation,” rather than dialogue, as the only way of dealing with its opponents.
“Or” says the right-wing Armenian opposition allied with former president Levon Ter-Petrosian is turning increasingly “anti-Russian” as evidenced by former parliament speaker Babken Ararktsian’s latest charge that Moscow is carrying out a “genocide” in Chechnya. The paper views this position as too extreme. “One gets the impression that the maximalism of our political forces does not accept intermediate variants or the possibility of concessions,” the paper says. This raises the question of whether Armenia’s declared complementary foreign policy “corresponds at all to the traits and character of the Armenian nation.” “And are our political forces mature enough to stop thinking in a one-sided way and not to lose sight of our national interests behind those of the West and Russia?”
“Hayots Ashkhar” claims that the parliament’s ad hoc commission overseeing the parliament attack investigation is “about to disappear” after a one-year “fruitless” work.
“Azg” says the five parliament gunmen who have been standing trial for more than a year are behaving like they are confident they will walk after the court sessions are over. “Only idiots are capable of such cynicism,” the paper says.
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Aravot” also does not hide its disappointment, saying: “The opposition is trying to persuade us that it still exists.”
Meanwhile, one of the most popular opposition figures, the HZhK’s Stepan Demirchian does not mince his words to describe the current authorities, in an interview with “Orran.” “The government’s greatest sin is that it is splitting the society and parties, and, having no popular support, is endlessly engineering political intrigues,” Demirchian says. He says the government views “confrontation,” rather than dialogue, as the only way of dealing with its opponents.
“Or” says the right-wing Armenian opposition allied with former president Levon Ter-Petrosian is turning increasingly “anti-Russian” as evidenced by former parliament speaker Babken Ararktsian’s latest charge that Moscow is carrying out a “genocide” in Chechnya. The paper views this position as too extreme. “One gets the impression that the maximalism of our political forces does not accept intermediate variants or the possibility of concessions,” the paper says. This raises the question of whether Armenia’s declared complementary foreign policy “corresponds at all to the traits and character of the Armenian nation.” “And are our political forces mature enough to stop thinking in a one-sided way and not to lose sight of our national interests behind those of the West and Russia?”
“Hayots Ashkhar” claims that the parliament’s ad hoc commission overseeing the parliament attack investigation is “about to disappear” after a one-year “fruitless” work.
“Azg” says the five parliament gunmen who have been standing trial for more than a year are behaving like they are confident they will walk after the court sessions are over. “Only idiots are capable of such cynicism,” the paper says.
(Vache Sarkisian)