“Haykakan Zhamanak” links the Dashnaktsutyun party’s decision to leave the ruling coalition with the May 31 elections in Yerevan, rather than the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. “The Armenian Revolutionary Federation moved into opposition ahead of the 2007 parliamentary elections, ahead of the 2008 presidential elections,” editorializes the opposition paper. “Naturally, the same thing should have also happened in the run-up to the elections of Yerevan. Pretexts can always be found.”
“Interestingly, the [March 2008] murder of ten Armenian citizens in the center of Yerevan did not compel Dashnaktsutyun to leave the coalition,” continues “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “Quite the opposition. Dashnaktsutyun decided to form a repeat coalition with Serzh Sarkisian. What is more, Dashnaktsutyun is still actively justifying the March 1 killings.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” believes that Dashnaktsutyun and Sarkisian do have serious differences on the two key external challenges facing Armenia: the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relations with Turkey. But, says the paper, if Dashnaktsutyun was consistent and principled enough it would demand Sarkisian’s resignation.
Vartan Khachatrian, a parliament deputy from the opposition Zharangutyun party, tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that Dashnaktsutyun’s exit increased chances for close cooperation between the two parties. But he rules out the establishment of an alliance between them.
“I don’t exclude cooperation [with Dashnaktsutyun] but its format will become clear as a result of discussions,” another Zharangutyun figure, Armen Martirosian, tells “Kapital.” “We have not started discussions yet.” Martirosian believes that Dashnaktsutyun and Zharangutyun share a strong belief in “national ideology.” “Zharangutyun is a national-liberal while Dashnaktsutyun a national-socialist party,” he says. “We both have a national base. But cooperation between parties requires not only a common ideology but also a work style and a circle of activities.”
“Hraparak” criticizes opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian and his Armenian National Congress (HAK) for not supporting the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. The paper argues that Ter-Petrosian and his associates have long been known as strong advocates of Armenia having normal relations with all of its neighbors. “If your ideas are put into practice by a government rejected by you, that is not sufficient grounds for condemning its actions,” it says. “On the other hand, Serzh Sarkisian’s tactic is understandable. He has failed to win the backing of his people and banked on external forces as a result. After the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations his positions will get much stronger and he will become for the West the most desirable president in this part of the world.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Interestingly, the [March 2008] murder of ten Armenian citizens in the center of Yerevan did not compel Dashnaktsutyun to leave the coalition,” continues “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “Quite the opposition. Dashnaktsutyun decided to form a repeat coalition with Serzh Sarkisian. What is more, Dashnaktsutyun is still actively justifying the March 1 killings.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” believes that Dashnaktsutyun and Sarkisian do have serious differences on the two key external challenges facing Armenia: the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relations with Turkey. But, says the paper, if Dashnaktsutyun was consistent and principled enough it would demand Sarkisian’s resignation.
Vartan Khachatrian, a parliament deputy from the opposition Zharangutyun party, tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that Dashnaktsutyun’s exit increased chances for close cooperation between the two parties. But he rules out the establishment of an alliance between them.
“I don’t exclude cooperation [with Dashnaktsutyun] but its format will become clear as a result of discussions,” another Zharangutyun figure, Armen Martirosian, tells “Kapital.” “We have not started discussions yet.” Martirosian believes that Dashnaktsutyun and Zharangutyun share a strong belief in “national ideology.” “Zharangutyun is a national-liberal while Dashnaktsutyun a national-socialist party,” he says. “We both have a national base. But cooperation between parties requires not only a common ideology but also a work style and a circle of activities.”
“Hraparak” criticizes opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian and his Armenian National Congress (HAK) for not supporting the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. The paper argues that Ter-Petrosian and his associates have long been known as strong advocates of Armenia having normal relations with all of its neighbors. “If your ideas are put into practice by a government rejected by you, that is not sufficient grounds for condemning its actions,” it says. “On the other hand, Serzh Sarkisian’s tactic is understandable. He has failed to win the backing of his people and banked on external forces as a result. After the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations his positions will get much stronger and he will become for the West the most desirable president in this part of the world.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)