Commenting on the first anniversary of the Turkish-Armenian protocols, “Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” claims that Turkey has managed to gain a role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process without having to normalize relations with Armenia. “That is, Turkey has achieved its goals, while we haven’t,” writes the pro-opposition daily. “In other words, if we speak in the language of ‘football diplomacy,’ the Turks are leading 2-0 after the first half [of the match.] The only encouraging thing is that the second half will not start straight away.”
In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar,” writer and columnist Meruzhan Ter-Gulanian says President Serzh Sarkisian should “urge” government-linked businessmen not to run for parliament anymore and to “deal with their business.” “They don’t have to be in parliament,” he says. “They can have their people there, as is widely practiced around the world.” “Our parliament is in need of change,” adds Ter-Gulanian.
“Those who are continuing to reinforce dictatorship are doing the biggest revolutionary work,” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “And the longer dictatorial stability lasts, the greater likelihood of uncontrolled and chaotic events. Our politicians are used to talking, thinking and acting for the short term, which betrays the unserious and imitational nature of their politics.” The pro-opposition paper believes that a “revolution” in Armenia will be inevitable if the existing political and economic situation in the country does not change.
Economist Tatul Manaserian assures “Aravot” that a further rise in the price of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia is avoidable. “Armenia and Russia are strategic allies and such allies are not confined to a particular sphere,” says Manaserian, adding that Moscow can continue to sell gas to Armenia at knock-down prices. “So there is no serious justification for raising the gas price for Armenia to European levels,” he claims. “Especially given that strategic alliances exist only between a limited number of states. Russia should be interested in the stabilization of the economies of its allied countries. Keeping the gas price low for only our country would not be a luxury for it because, compared to other countries, Armenia consumes little gas.”
(Tigran Avetisian)