“What can he do in three years?” “Hayots Ashkhar” asks, referring to Levon Ter-Petrosian. The paper wonders how he would go about addressing Armenia’s grave problems mentioned in his speeches in such a short period of time. Especially given that he would have to face a parliament dominated by supporters of Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian. “He would at best only try to return the state foreign policy course to the roots of 1998. That is, to surrender Karabakh and remove the issue of genocide recognition from Armenia’s foreign policy agenda.”
“Aravot” says that there are vacant positions in the Armenian police which have surprisingly attracted little interest from senior officers. The paper claims that potential candidates refuse to occupy those positions “for the simple reason that presidential elections are coming up and they don’t want to put their heads on the line.” It says they are not sure that there will not be regime change as a result of the elections. “That is the reason why some policemen do not want to be associated with Robert Kocharian or Serzh Sarkisian or to be seen as individuals who have worked for the HHK leader.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” brushes aside government statements that wealthy businessmen loyal to the authorities are also facing a financial inspection of their companies. “A new business class has been formed in Armenia,” the paper comments tartly. “People who enjoy to see tax officials conduct inspections of their companies and find violations. But because the Armenian authorities’ greatest dream is to please entrepreneurs, one can rest assured that the authorities will carry on with that patriotic undertaking and please such entrepreneurs on a permanent basis.”
“Hayk” reports that representatives of the governing HHK have again begun collecting passports or their copies from citizens in some parts of the country. “That process is particularly active in remote villages whose mayors are HHK members,” claims the opposition daily. “We are certain that the HHK will deny that fact. And let the HHK be certain that both the fact and its denial will turn against them.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” disputes Prime Minister Sarkisian’s claim that he cares more about the prices of key food products than statements made at opposition rallies. If this was really the case, says the paper, Sarkisian would break up economic monopolies importing those products and make sure that their prices are not rising despite the continuing strengthening of the Armenian dram. “In that sense, Serzh Sarkisian does not care about the prices at all,” it says.
(Atom Markarian)
“Aravot” says that there are vacant positions in the Armenian police which have surprisingly attracted little interest from senior officers. The paper claims that potential candidates refuse to occupy those positions “for the simple reason that presidential elections are coming up and they don’t want to put their heads on the line.” It says they are not sure that there will not be regime change as a result of the elections. “That is the reason why some policemen do not want to be associated with Robert Kocharian or Serzh Sarkisian or to be seen as individuals who have worked for the HHK leader.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” brushes aside government statements that wealthy businessmen loyal to the authorities are also facing a financial inspection of their companies. “A new business class has been formed in Armenia,” the paper comments tartly. “People who enjoy to see tax officials conduct inspections of their companies and find violations. But because the Armenian authorities’ greatest dream is to please entrepreneurs, one can rest assured that the authorities will carry on with that patriotic undertaking and please such entrepreneurs on a permanent basis.”
“Hayk” reports that representatives of the governing HHK have again begun collecting passports or their copies from citizens in some parts of the country. “That process is particularly active in remote villages whose mayors are HHK members,” claims the opposition daily. “We are certain that the HHK will deny that fact. And let the HHK be certain that both the fact and its denial will turn against them.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” disputes Prime Minister Sarkisian’s claim that he cares more about the prices of key food products than statements made at opposition rallies. If this was really the case, says the paper, Sarkisian would break up economic monopolies importing those products and make sure that their prices are not rising despite the continuing strengthening of the Armenian dram. “In that sense, Serzh Sarkisian does not care about the prices at all,” it says.
(Atom Markarian)