Armenian newspapers comment on former President Robert Kocharian’s surprise visit to Iran, during which he met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials.
“Did Iran really not find any serving official in Armenia with whom it could discuss bilateral relations and regional developments?” asks “Zhamanak.” “Or maybe Armenia’s leadership assigned Robert Kocharian to hold negotiations on those issues with Iran.”
“Iranian reports leave the impression that Iran’s authorities invited Kocharian to publicize their problems with the world,” writes “Hraparak.” “But why Kocharian? How can Kocharian be of use to any government after ending his relationship with the Armenian people with blood?”
Another pro-opposition daily, “Hayk,” notes that Ahmadinejad took a swipe at the West and the United States in particular at the meeting with Kocharian. “Given the complicated situation Armenia is in and the significance of the big powers’ support for Armenia, it becomes obvious what a severe blow Kocharian has dealt to Armenia,” claims the paper. “If things continue like this, we may one day see Kocharian in Moscow or Ankara signing treating or agreements,” it adds.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” blames Armenia’s Constitutional Court for the escalating Turkish-Armenian tensions, saying that the Turks will now not ratify the agreements with Armenia even if there is a breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. “The Armenian side’s hopes that Barack Obama will utter the word ‘genocide’ on April or that that such a threat would made the Turks cave in are misplaced,” editorializes the paper. “The Turkish side has now something concrete to show to Obama: the decision by Armenia’s Constitutional Court. The Turks may explain to Obama that that is what impedes the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. The Armenian side will need very big efforts to prove the opposite.”
But as “Hayots Ashkhar” says, the Turkish efforts to hold Armenia responsible for the fiasco have already proved fruitless. “The Turkish side may be nervous also because Armenia’s authorities continue to maintain the strategic initiative in this process,” says the paper. It says Ankara will likely make more mistakes and Yerevan should exploit them too.
“Kapital” reports that Armenia will soon start building a new high-voltage power transmission line connecting it with Georgia. Energy Minister Armen Movsisian is quoted as saying that the construction will take “about one a half years.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Did Iran really not find any serving official in Armenia with whom it could discuss bilateral relations and regional developments?” asks “Zhamanak.” “Or maybe Armenia’s leadership assigned Robert Kocharian to hold negotiations on those issues with Iran.”
“Iranian reports leave the impression that Iran’s authorities invited Kocharian to publicize their problems with the world,” writes “Hraparak.” “But why Kocharian? How can Kocharian be of use to any government after ending his relationship with the Armenian people with blood?”
Another pro-opposition daily, “Hayk,” notes that Ahmadinejad took a swipe at the West and the United States in particular at the meeting with Kocharian. “Given the complicated situation Armenia is in and the significance of the big powers’ support for Armenia, it becomes obvious what a severe blow Kocharian has dealt to Armenia,” claims the paper. “If things continue like this, we may one day see Kocharian in Moscow or Ankara signing treating or agreements,” it adds.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” blames Armenia’s Constitutional Court for the escalating Turkish-Armenian tensions, saying that the Turks will now not ratify the agreements with Armenia even if there is a breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. “The Armenian side’s hopes that Barack Obama will utter the word ‘genocide’ on April or that that such a threat would made the Turks cave in are misplaced,” editorializes the paper. “The Turkish side has now something concrete to show to Obama: the decision by Armenia’s Constitutional Court. The Turks may explain to Obama that that is what impedes the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. The Armenian side will need very big efforts to prove the opposite.”
But as “Hayots Ashkhar” says, the Turkish efforts to hold Armenia responsible for the fiasco have already proved fruitless. “The Turkish side may be nervous also because Armenia’s authorities continue to maintain the strategic initiative in this process,” says the paper. It says Ankara will likely make more mistakes and Yerevan should exploit them too.
“Kapital” reports that Armenia will soon start building a new high-voltage power transmission line connecting it with Georgia. Energy Minister Armen Movsisian is quoted as saying that the construction will take “about one a half years.”
(Tigran Avetisian)