(Saturday, June 19)
“Zhamanak” says the existence of political forces of center-left orientation is practically impossible in Armenia. “In a country where the material wealth and power levers are concentrated in the government’s hands, being left-wing is almost impossible and tantamount to non-existence,” editorializes the paper. “For in such countries, left-wingers have to periodically revolt against the existing situation and organize social protest actions in order to show their being left-wing. And yet instead of doing that, the left [in Armenia] either launches a campaign against the Turkish-Armenian process or become members of the public or their councils close to the government.”
Razmik Zohrabian, a deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party, tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that the turmoil in the opposition Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) is totally irrelevant to major political developments in the country “because they have almost exhausted public trust and their potential to make a political impact.” “This fight would have caused no interest had there been no concerns that its purpose is to provoke political instability,” says Zohrabian. “The resignations of the HHSh chairman and deputy-chairman prove that there are wings within the party, one of which believes that the HHSh should give up extremism and participate in the next parliamentary elections in a separate and civilized manner.”
Onno Simmons, an official at the European Union Delegation in Yerevan, assures “168 Zham” that a recent European Parliament resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh criticized by Armenia is not binding for the EU’s executive bodies. “It should rather be regarded as advice to the European institutions,” Simmons says. He insists that the resolution is not “negative” for Armenia. “I think it became clear to many Armenians that it is very important to properly present the Armenian view in Brussels, as other interested parties do,” Simmons says.
“Kapital” reports that an Armenian-Iranian business forum began its work in Yerevan on Friday. The paper says the weeklong gathering is marked by the participation of a record-high number (about 100) of Iranian entrepreneurs. “Armenia mainly imports from Iran mineral products and household items such as plastic and glass vessels and exports live sheep and lamb, as well as aluminum, iron and steel,” it says. “The Armenian government probably did not attach much importance to this conference.” The business daily notes that the most high-ranking government official present its the opening session is an Armenian deputy minister of economy.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Zhamanak” says the existence of political forces of center-left orientation is practically impossible in Armenia. “In a country where the material wealth and power levers are concentrated in the government’s hands, being left-wing is almost impossible and tantamount to non-existence,” editorializes the paper. “For in such countries, left-wingers have to periodically revolt against the existing situation and organize social protest actions in order to show their being left-wing. And yet instead of doing that, the left [in Armenia] either launches a campaign against the Turkish-Armenian process or become members of the public or their councils close to the government.”
Razmik Zohrabian, a deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party, tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that the turmoil in the opposition Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) is totally irrelevant to major political developments in the country “because they have almost exhausted public trust and their potential to make a political impact.” “This fight would have caused no interest had there been no concerns that its purpose is to provoke political instability,” says Zohrabian. “The resignations of the HHSh chairman and deputy-chairman prove that there are wings within the party, one of which believes that the HHSh should give up extremism and participate in the next parliamentary elections in a separate and civilized manner.”
Onno Simmons, an official at the European Union Delegation in Yerevan, assures “168 Zham” that a recent European Parliament resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh criticized by Armenia is not binding for the EU’s executive bodies. “It should rather be regarded as advice to the European institutions,” Simmons says. He insists that the resolution is not “negative” for Armenia. “I think it became clear to many Armenians that it is very important to properly present the Armenian view in Brussels, as other interested parties do,” Simmons says.
“Kapital” reports that an Armenian-Iranian business forum began its work in Yerevan on Friday. The paper says the weeklong gathering is marked by the participation of a record-high number (about 100) of Iranian entrepreneurs. “Armenia mainly imports from Iran mineral products and household items such as plastic and glass vessels and exports live sheep and lamb, as well as aluminum, iron and steel,” it says. “The Armenian government probably did not attach much importance to this conference.” The business daily notes that the most high-ranking government official present its the opening session is an Armenian deputy minister of economy.
(Aghasi Yenokian)