“Aravot” says Armenians have been unanimous in their assessment of the Budapest killing of an Armenian military officer. But the paper is worried that public rage over Gurgen Markarian’s violent death has brought to the fore “nationalist forces and half-forgotten intellectuals.” “They now have a great opportunity to disseminate ideas with which it is very difficult to live in the 21st century,” it says. “The most foolish thing that could be done today is to counter the anti-Armenian hysteria [in Azerbaijan] with an anti-Azerbaijani hysteria here. If peace and stability are really important to our authorities they must not foster the escalation of hatred.”
“Baku has misunderstood Yerevan’s and Stepanakert’s peace-making initiatives, taking them as a sign of weakness,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “We must draw a good lesson from that” and deal with Azerbaijan and Turkey “only from the position of force.” “They don’t understand other languages.” The paper calls on Yerevan to recognize Karabakh’s independence.
“Iravunk” says that recent statements by senior government officials and state television commentaries convey an impression that “the country is preparing for war.” The paper says the authorities are now playing up external challenges facing Armenia. “It can be argued that the government pyramid is seriously fretting over the issue of Robert Kocharian’s successor and different government factions have different views as to how rapidly and to whom power should be transferred. It appears that at this juncture time does not favor at least one of those wings and the wing which is gradually losing resources is objectively interested in an escalation of the internal political situation.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says the continuing opposition boycott of parliament sessions significantly decreased the intensity of legislative work in Armenia. The papers says the bulk of the bills pending debate in the National Assembly are drafted by the Orinats Yerkir Party of speaker Artur Baghdasarian.
“Aravot” notes that the U.S. State Department’s latest human rights report on Armenia is largely in tune with the views of the Armenian opposition. “It is very likely that pro-government figures will soon carry out analyses to the effect that America is trying to stir up trouble in order to pressurize our authorities. But it can also be admitted that all sides have simply presented the grim reality. In Armenia and America and Europe alike, they see everything.”
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Baku has misunderstood Yerevan’s and Stepanakert’s peace-making initiatives, taking them as a sign of weakness,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “We must draw a good lesson from that” and deal with Azerbaijan and Turkey “only from the position of force.” “They don’t understand other languages.” The paper calls on Yerevan to recognize Karabakh’s independence.
“Iravunk” says that recent statements by senior government officials and state television commentaries convey an impression that “the country is preparing for war.” The paper says the authorities are now playing up external challenges facing Armenia. “It can be argued that the government pyramid is seriously fretting over the issue of Robert Kocharian’s successor and different government factions have different views as to how rapidly and to whom power should be transferred. It appears that at this juncture time does not favor at least one of those wings and the wing which is gradually losing resources is objectively interested in an escalation of the internal political situation.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says the continuing opposition boycott of parliament sessions significantly decreased the intensity of legislative work in Armenia. The papers says the bulk of the bills pending debate in the National Assembly are drafted by the Orinats Yerkir Party of speaker Artur Baghdasarian.
“Aravot” notes that the U.S. State Department’s latest human rights report on Armenia is largely in tune with the views of the Armenian opposition. “It is very likely that pro-government figures will soon carry out analyses to the effect that America is trying to stir up trouble in order to pressurize our authorities. But it can also be admitted that all sides have simply presented the grim reality. In Armenia and America and Europe alike, they see everything.”
(Vache Sarkisian)