According to “Haykakan Zhamanak,” the collection of voters’ signatures in support of President Robert Kocharian’s registration as a presidential candidate is "moving forward extremely slowly." “Not only do residents refuse to sign, but also insult and offend those who collect the signatures,” the paper claims, adding that employees of various government agencies and enterprises owned by pro-Kocharian businessmen are forced to give their signatures.
“Aravot” notes that only government officials speak about “Armenia’s achievements and successes.” “Others are telling us totally different things. So what we get [from the government] is a truth for internal use, a means for misleading the electorate,” the paper says.
“Ayb-Fe” ridicules Kocharian supporters’ argument that the Karabakh-born leader is eligible for the Armenian presidency because the 1989 act of Nagorno-Karabakh’s reunification with Soviet Armenia has never been rescinded. “If that decision is something sacred for our authorities, why is it that the Republic of Armenia has two national flags, two anthems, two presidents and so on?” the paper asks. It argues that Armenian law does not extend to the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
But a prominent Armenian actor, Sos Sarkisian, believes that a regime change “would not contribute to Armenia’s development.” “We must allow Robert Kocharian to continue to implement and complete his programs,” he says, accusing the president’s opponents of plotting “petty intrigues.” “True, we Armenians have a state de jure. But we do not yet have profound knowledge of what the state is all about. We continue to be a non-state nation. We still exist with clans, with our personal interests.”
“Azg” complains that many presidential candidates are now busy seeking the backing of foreign powers, despite their pledges to strengthen Armenia’s independence and sovereignty. “The impression is that not going to Russia at least once is an especially bad omen that leaves a particular candidate without chances of victory,” it writes.
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Aravot” notes that only government officials speak about “Armenia’s achievements and successes.” “Others are telling us totally different things. So what we get [from the government] is a truth for internal use, a means for misleading the electorate,” the paper says.
“Ayb-Fe” ridicules Kocharian supporters’ argument that the Karabakh-born leader is eligible for the Armenian presidency because the 1989 act of Nagorno-Karabakh’s reunification with Soviet Armenia has never been rescinded. “If that decision is something sacred for our authorities, why is it that the Republic of Armenia has two national flags, two anthems, two presidents and so on?” the paper asks. It argues that Armenian law does not extend to the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
But a prominent Armenian actor, Sos Sarkisian, believes that a regime change “would not contribute to Armenia’s development.” “We must allow Robert Kocharian to continue to implement and complete his programs,” he says, accusing the president’s opponents of plotting “petty intrigues.” “True, we Armenians have a state de jure. But we do not yet have profound knowledge of what the state is all about. We continue to be a non-state nation. We still exist with clans, with our personal interests.”
“Azg” complains that many presidential candidates are now busy seeking the backing of foreign powers, despite their pledges to strengthen Armenia’s independence and sovereignty. “The impression is that not going to Russia at least once is an especially bad omen that leaves a particular candidate without chances of victory,” it writes.
(Vache Sarkisian)