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Press Review


Commenting on the post-election turmoil in Ukraine, “Hayots Ashkhar” writes that “velvet [revolution] scenarios work only in those countries where the opposition is strong enough to seriously aspire to power but is not strong enough to win elections.” “For a velvet revolution to take place there must also be a velvet government like [the one which existed] in Georgia,” the paper says, adding that the Ukrainian authorities will likely quell the opposition protests.

But according to “Aravot,” the Ukrainian opposition is well placed to topple the pro-Russian regime in Kiev. “First of all, the Ukrainian opposition movement itself is quite powerful and organized.” Besides, it enjoys strong international support, says the paper.

“We have no friends in the Council of Europe,” “Haykakan Zhamanak” quotes deputy parliament speaker Tigran Torosian as saying on Tuesday. The paper scoffs at the remark. It also points to Torosian’s admission that there is an “indirect” link between recent Armenian setbacks in the Karabakh peace process and last year’s troubled elections. He said Armenia must therefore speed up its integration into European structures.

“Foreign Minister Oskanian does not share Tigran Torosian’s mood,” reports “Azg.” The paper says Oskanian put a brave face Tuesday on a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly report on the Karabakh conflict criticized by Armenia.

“Aravot” comments on “Haykakan Zhamanak” editor Nikol Pashinian’s claims that his car was blown up by oligarch Gagik Tsarukian. “This may well be true, even though theoretically that may have been done by any other oligarch, any security official, any crime figure,” it says. “And because the criminals, oligarchs and law-enforcement officials are different ingredients of the same soup, the truth about this will never be established.” The paper believes that a “feudal system” is taking hold in Armenia because of “the psychology of our people and public perceptions.”

“Aravot” points out that even opposition leader Stepan Demirchian is a “king” in the eyes of many ordinary people that voted for him in the 2003 elections. “[Another opposition leader] Artashes Geghamian is also a king,” it says. “It’s just that he wears a flak jacket instead of a crown … The Europeans had exactly the same mentality in the 16-17th centuries. But what does Armenia need in order to move from a feudal to a free-market capitalist system? It needs time, about 400 years.”

(Vache Sarkisian)
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