“In our country an approach to the Karabakh issue depends on whether a particular person likes the president,” political expert Suren Zolian tells “Hayots Ashkhar.” “If he trusts [the president], then that person believes everything is fine and sees only positive trends on the Karabakh front. If he doesn’t trust the president, then calls [Armenia’s] policy on Karabakh defeatist and disastrous.”
“Iravunk” continues to draw parallels between the situation existing in Armenia now and in the run-up to Levon Ter-Petrosian’s 1998 resignation. “Seven years ago the situation with crime was also drastically deteriorating. Seven years ago, the Karabakh problem was as acute as it is now. Against this background, a repeat of the February 1998 scenario is not at all unlikely.” The only question, according to the paper, is whether Armenia will have regime change or a mere “transfer of power.”
“Aravot” says that renewed opposition talk of an imminent “revolution” in Armenia is counterproductive for the opposition cause. The paper says although most Armenians want real change in their country they still don’t see a political force capable of bringing it about.
“When current President Robert Kocharian insists that he will embark on an uncompromising fight against the shadow economy, many do not believe in his sincerity and they are right to do so,” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “One of the reasons for the disbelief is the fact that it is now impossible to obtain information about the turnover, taxes and profits of a particular enterprise. The State Taxation Service refuses to provide such information on the grounds that it is not authorized to do that, while enterprises themselves refuse to disclose their figures, saying that they are a commercial secret.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” wonders why the U.S. dollar continues to weaken against the Armenian dram even now that it is rallying in international currency markets. “Doesn’t all of this once again prove that our domestic financial speculators are keeping the dollar’s value artificially low?” it asks.
“Yerkir” makes the point that Armenia must not leave in peace with its neighbors at the expense of its “national dignity.” “We all could go to more well-off countries and have better lives there. What is the point of preserving the Armenian state if we don’t have certain principles and goals?”
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Iravunk” continues to draw parallels between the situation existing in Armenia now and in the run-up to Levon Ter-Petrosian’s 1998 resignation. “Seven years ago the situation with crime was also drastically deteriorating. Seven years ago, the Karabakh problem was as acute as it is now. Against this background, a repeat of the February 1998 scenario is not at all unlikely.” The only question, according to the paper, is whether Armenia will have regime change or a mere “transfer of power.”
“Aravot” says that renewed opposition talk of an imminent “revolution” in Armenia is counterproductive for the opposition cause. The paper says although most Armenians want real change in their country they still don’t see a political force capable of bringing it about.
“When current President Robert Kocharian insists that he will embark on an uncompromising fight against the shadow economy, many do not believe in his sincerity and they are right to do so,” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “One of the reasons for the disbelief is the fact that it is now impossible to obtain information about the turnover, taxes and profits of a particular enterprise. The State Taxation Service refuses to provide such information on the grounds that it is not authorized to do that, while enterprises themselves refuse to disclose their figures, saying that they are a commercial secret.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” wonders why the U.S. dollar continues to weaken against the Armenian dram even now that it is rallying in international currency markets. “Doesn’t all of this once again prove that our domestic financial speculators are keeping the dollar’s value artificially low?” it asks.
“Yerkir” makes the point that Armenia must not leave in peace with its neighbors at the expense of its “national dignity.” “We all could go to more well-off countries and have better lives there. What is the point of preserving the Armenian state if we don’t have certain principles and goals?”
(Vache Sarkisian)