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Press Review


The editor of the “Aravot” daily sees something like a dialogue commencing between the government and the opposition, generally evaluating it as a positive development. “The dialogue between [opposition Heritage party leader] Raffi Hovannisian and [President] Serzh Sarkisian, despite some formal flaws, should be encouraged… It is desirable that any further aggravation of contradictions be avoided now. And the parties to this emerging dialogue should not be reproached, while the dialogue should not be made fun of and discredited. Negotiations and a compromise born out of them are the only efficient way out of this situation.”

“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” suggests that the movement of Hovannisian dubbed Barevolution (a wordplay on the Armenian greeting “barev” and the English word “revolution”) is turning into a travesty as its leader Raffi Hovannisian, who went on a hunger strike on March 10 and threatened that Sarkisian will be sworn in on April 9 over his, Hovannisian’s, “dead body” has suddenly stated that he is ready to recognize Sarkisian’s presidency if he agrees to hold early presidential or parliamentary elections by the end of this year and before that gives him a number of key government positions. “It would seem the Liberty Square processes had turned into a one-actor theater, but unexpectedly Sarkisian entered the play turning it into a two-actor drama,” comments the paper.

“Hraparak” takes it in its stride that two politicians [President Serzh Sarkisian and his top challenger Raffi Hovannisian] situated only half a kilometer from each other communicate through letters. “It is better than the language of threats and obscenities, let alone the language of guns. But it would be better if they were more honest to each other as well as before the society. When Hovannisian demands preterm presidential elections he perhaps knows it all too well that this demand will not be granted. The point of presenting this unrealistic demand is to display one’s own will and fighting spirit. Sarkisian does the same when he speaks about starting an effective dialogue and certainly achieving a result… The juxtaposition of these conflicting sentiments leads to the conclusion that this correspondence has one goal – to make Hovannisian end his hunger strike and do everything for the April 9 inauguration of President Sarkisian to take place without conflict.”

In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar” ruling Republican Party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov insists that some of the proposals made by the opposition leader to end the current post-election crisis are against the country’s constitution and regulations that are currently put in place, according to which it is up to the president to appoint chiefs of law-enforcement bodies and the foreign minister. But he adds: “At the same time, there are points concerning the possibility of providing the opposition with functions of oversight or increasing its role in supervision where both the government and the opposition have something to do. In this sense, some common ground could be found around certain issues. But it is yet early to speak about a coalition. At this moment it is important that Raffi Hovannisian lend an ear to the president’s appeal and end his hunger strike. Details can be discussed afterwards.”

(Tigran Avetisian)
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