“Aravot” predicts the eventual “collapse” of Russia which it says could mean disastrous consequences for Armenia and other “Russian satellites.” “We are dependent on Russia because of both objective reasons and the short-sighted policy of the current authorities,” editorializes the paper. “But if Russia implodes in 30 or 40 years’ time, we will have a chance for salvation provided that we take steps jointly with all of our four neighbors to integrate ourselves into Europe by that time.”
“Azg” condemns the politically charged criminal cases against Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalian and Lebanese-Armenian war veteran Zhirayr Sefilian. “The way the arrests were made and the ensuing official statements and ‘explanations’ suggest that the authorities are alarmed,” the paper writes in an editorial. “It is difficult to diagnose the reasons for this jittery state of mind for the moment. It can only be asserted that those reasons are rather internal than external.” The paper says the allegations made against Sefilian by the National Security Service are “ludicrous.” A man who played a major role during the Karabakh war is now treated by the former KGB as a “mercenary.” “Don’t those employees [of the NSS] realize that they are thereby offending the entire Diaspora?”
“Hayk” says the Armenian opposition will exploit Sefilian’s arrest for political aims, while the authorities will tell the people “what a dangerous criminal has been isolated from the society” and deflect their attention from “real problems.” “After all, this is what Sefilian was held for,” says the paper.
“Zhamanak Yerevan” says official Yerevan is wrong to complain about international criticism of the referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh because it itself has failed to explicitly recognize the vote results. “Otherwise, it would not have negotiated with Azerbaijan on the idea of holding a new referendum of independence in Karabakh,” explains the paper.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says a group of parliamentarians from the governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) visiting Stepanakert were so “moved” by the high voter turnout in the referendum that one of them could not hold back tears. A correspondent for the paper asked them whether they recalled Armenia’s November 2005 constitutional referendum during that emotional moment. “The comparison made them pleasantly envious,” she says.
“A just but useless referendum,” reads a headline in “Taregir.” “The international community recognizes the results of our falsified elections and referendums, but does not recognize Karabakh’s non-falsified referendum. So maybe it, too, should have been rigged,” the paper suggests sarcastically.
(Atom Markarian)
“Azg” condemns the politically charged criminal cases against Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalian and Lebanese-Armenian war veteran Zhirayr Sefilian. “The way the arrests were made and the ensuing official statements and ‘explanations’ suggest that the authorities are alarmed,” the paper writes in an editorial. “It is difficult to diagnose the reasons for this jittery state of mind for the moment. It can only be asserted that those reasons are rather internal than external.” The paper says the allegations made against Sefilian by the National Security Service are “ludicrous.” A man who played a major role during the Karabakh war is now treated by the former KGB as a “mercenary.” “Don’t those employees [of the NSS] realize that they are thereby offending the entire Diaspora?”
“Hayk” says the Armenian opposition will exploit Sefilian’s arrest for political aims, while the authorities will tell the people “what a dangerous criminal has been isolated from the society” and deflect their attention from “real problems.” “After all, this is what Sefilian was held for,” says the paper.
“Zhamanak Yerevan” says official Yerevan is wrong to complain about international criticism of the referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh because it itself has failed to explicitly recognize the vote results. “Otherwise, it would not have negotiated with Azerbaijan on the idea of holding a new referendum of independence in Karabakh,” explains the paper.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says a group of parliamentarians from the governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) visiting Stepanakert were so “moved” by the high voter turnout in the referendum that one of them could not hold back tears. A correspondent for the paper asked them whether they recalled Armenia’s November 2005 constitutional referendum during that emotional moment. “The comparison made them pleasantly envious,” she says.
“A just but useless referendum,” reads a headline in “Taregir.” “The international community recognizes the results of our falsified elections and referendums, but does not recognize Karabakh’s non-falsified referendum. So maybe it, too, should have been rigged,” the paper suggests sarcastically.
(Atom Markarian)