“Haykakan Zhamanak” challenges the logic of the latest high-profile resignations and dismissals of state officials or at least their stated reasons.
“When [former Yerevan mayor] Gagik Beglarian was forced to resign, they said he was quitting because he had committed an act of hooliganism. In that case, what did [Economy Minister] Nerses Yeritsian do? If they sacked him over the current state of our economy, let them say so, let them say that he is perhaps the only minister who has not attended to current affairs and has been engaged solely in drafting and submitting long-term strategies… from turning Gyumri into a seaport to importing oxen meat,” it writes.
“Of course, this is all absurd, but the main responsibility for the current state of the economy lies with [Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsian. But there have been no reports about his resignation yet,” the paper adds.
“Zhamanak” also comments on the dramatic changes in the Armenian government in recent days and writes: “The modern history of Armenia has been rich in surprise, high-profile personnel changes, from which, however, the quality of the government or the living standards of citizens have not change changed significantly.”
“When the system itself is flawed, the decisions made in this vicious circle cannot have a positive impact on the general atmosphere,” the daily comments.
“Hayots Ashkhar” outlines the scope of problems that it believes the new mayor should tackle. “In Yerevan, especially in recent years, there has been too much noise, polluted air and environment, especially in the suburbs. One needn’t be an expert to notice all that.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” calls the outcome of the recent broadcast licensing tender “shocking”.
“Of course, it is not shocking in the sense that A1+ has again been denied a license. No one had doubted such an outcome. What is shocking is the cynicism with which the authorities did that. Seven of the eight members of the National Commission on Television and Radio gave a six grade to ArmNews’ bid, while awarding a zero grade to A1+. The authorities knew that would mainly have trouble with Europe and that’s why they had chosen to engage the company retransmitting EuroNews [against A1+], as if saying: ‘Look, we let the promoter of European values stay on the air’.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“When [former Yerevan mayor] Gagik Beglarian was forced to resign, they said he was quitting because he had committed an act of hooliganism. In that case, what did [Economy Minister] Nerses Yeritsian do? If they sacked him over the current state of our economy, let them say so, let them say that he is perhaps the only minister who has not attended to current affairs and has been engaged solely in drafting and submitting long-term strategies… from turning Gyumri into a seaport to importing oxen meat,” it writes.
“Of course, this is all absurd, but the main responsibility for the current state of the economy lies with [Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsian. But there have been no reports about his resignation yet,” the paper adds.
“Zhamanak” also comments on the dramatic changes in the Armenian government in recent days and writes: “The modern history of Armenia has been rich in surprise, high-profile personnel changes, from which, however, the quality of the government or the living standards of citizens have not change changed significantly.”
“When the system itself is flawed, the decisions made in this vicious circle cannot have a positive impact on the general atmosphere,” the daily comments.
“Hayots Ashkhar” outlines the scope of problems that it believes the new mayor should tackle. “In Yerevan, especially in recent years, there has been too much noise, polluted air and environment, especially in the suburbs. One needn’t be an expert to notice all that.”
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” calls the outcome of the recent broadcast licensing tender “shocking”.
“Of course, it is not shocking in the sense that A1+ has again been denied a license. No one had doubted such an outcome. What is shocking is the cynicism with which the authorities did that. Seven of the eight members of the National Commission on Television and Radio gave a six grade to ArmNews’ bid, while awarding a zero grade to A1+. The authorities knew that would mainly have trouble with Europe and that’s why they had chosen to engage the company retransmitting EuroNews [against A1+], as if saying: ‘Look, we let the promoter of European values stay on the air’.”
(Tigran Avetisian)