“Of course, from the political standpoint and in terms of a democratization of the society, the opposition’s absence from the first Yerevan Council of Elders is a substantial deficiency,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “But democratization is only the means. The goal is a comprehensive development of Yerevan. Is it worth sacrificing the goal for the means?” The paper believes that while opposition participation in the work of the Yerevan council could give a “huge benefit” to the Armenian capital, Levon Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK) is “unfit” to hold the municipality in check. “This radical political unit only wants to run the country,” it says.
“Now someone has instilled in the [ruling] HHK a belief that it is an incomparable force with which one can not compete and which can single-handedly govern a qualitative half of the country, its capital, without any checks and balances, without being criticized by anyone and by appropriating the capital’s resources,” writes “Azg.” “And for a lone ruler, it is very easy to fall into euphoria, consider itself infallible, place itself above everyone else.” The paper is worried that the HHK could become an “uncontrollable force” in municipal governance.
“Hayots Ashkhar” says that the Ter-Petrosian camp has been finally defeated and that there is no more need to crack down on it. “Now is the time to move on,” says the pro-presidential paper. “We believe that the authorities are obliged to take the next preventive steps. They must show that they feel strong vis-à-vis an opposition exploiting the issue of political prisoners and are ready for a broader dialogue with the entire nation.” It voices support for a presidential amnesty of all arrested oppositionists.
“Zhamanak” comes out in support of an alliance between the HAK and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), saying that it could radically change the political situation and “give a new impetus to the society.” The paper says such an alliance unite the nation against the ruling regime. “But let there be no impression that Dashnaktsutyun is needed only by the HAK,” it says. “Absolutely not. Dashnaktsutyun needs the HAK at least as much, if not more, as the HAK needs Dashnaktsutyun.”
“Everybody knows that Serzh Sarkisian not only controls nothing but lacks the resolve to make a decision on any more less serious issue,” says “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “Does it mean that in Armenia power belongs to, say, police? Not it doesn’t. Because at any moment any criminal thug can slap any policeman in sight and go unpunished. Does it mean that real power belongs to the underworld? No because the underworld is not united and there is infighting there all the time … In other words, there is absolutely no power in Armenia today.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Now someone has instilled in the [ruling] HHK a belief that it is an incomparable force with which one can not compete and which can single-handedly govern a qualitative half of the country, its capital, without any checks and balances, without being criticized by anyone and by appropriating the capital’s resources,” writes “Azg.” “And for a lone ruler, it is very easy to fall into euphoria, consider itself infallible, place itself above everyone else.” The paper is worried that the HHK could become an “uncontrollable force” in municipal governance.
“Hayots Ashkhar” says that the Ter-Petrosian camp has been finally defeated and that there is no more need to crack down on it. “Now is the time to move on,” says the pro-presidential paper. “We believe that the authorities are obliged to take the next preventive steps. They must show that they feel strong vis-à-vis an opposition exploiting the issue of political prisoners and are ready for a broader dialogue with the entire nation.” It voices support for a presidential amnesty of all arrested oppositionists.
“Zhamanak” comes out in support of an alliance between the HAK and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), saying that it could radically change the political situation and “give a new impetus to the society.” The paper says such an alliance unite the nation against the ruling regime. “But let there be no impression that Dashnaktsutyun is needed only by the HAK,” it says. “Absolutely not. Dashnaktsutyun needs the HAK at least as much, if not more, as the HAK needs Dashnaktsutyun.”
“Everybody knows that Serzh Sarkisian not only controls nothing but lacks the resolve to make a decision on any more less serious issue,” says “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “Does it mean that in Armenia power belongs to, say, police? Not it doesn’t. Because at any moment any criminal thug can slap any policeman in sight and go unpunished. Does it mean that real power belongs to the underworld? No because the underworld is not united and there is infighting there all the time … In other words, there is absolutely no power in Armenia today.”
(Aghasi Yenokian)