“Zhamanak” blames the latest price hikes in Armenia “on the greed and unlimited appetites of some people.” The paper also contends that “Armenia is a social gunpowder keg that can be blown up by any spark.” It says the only encouraging thing is that the Armenia authorities are pressing ahead with the signing of an Association Agreement with the European Union. “However, the gunpowder which is being inflamed today should be an extremely serious wake-up call to the Armenian authorities to the effect that it is impossible to lead the country to important foreign policy decisions with so much gunpowder,” it says, warning that the country’s domestic woes could discredit or scuttle European integration.
“Hayots Ashkhar” says foreign powers are increasingly “playing the Karabakh card” in their dealings with Armenia. “It is evident that a drive to integrate Armenia into the Western commonwealth is the reason for the West’s increased interest in Nagorno-Karabakh,” writes the paper. It says that several U.S. and Australian states highlighted that interest recently with resolutions recognizing Karabakh’s independence. Russia cannot fail to notice these signals and is using “the same factor” to retain its strong influence on Armenia. Some Russian analysts have gone as far as to claim that Armenia is ready to abandon Karabakh for the sake of the Association Agreement with the EU, notes “Hayots Ashkhar.”
“Aravot” says the ongoing civic movement against transport fare hikes in Yerevan is positive in the sense that it cuts across political party lines pursues a “very concrete” objective: to get the municipal administration to rescind its decision. “Those who share this demand are doing their job in different ways which they consider right,” editorializes the paper. “People feel somewhat dear to one another.” It notes that even the owners of expensive cars are offering free rides to citizens standing at bus stops across the city these days. The paper goes on to warn activists against rebuking or mocking those commuters who agree to pay higher fares set by the municipal authorities.
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” says foreign powers are increasingly “playing the Karabakh card” in their dealings with Armenia. “It is evident that a drive to integrate Armenia into the Western commonwealth is the reason for the West’s increased interest in Nagorno-Karabakh,” writes the paper. It says that several U.S. and Australian states highlighted that interest recently with resolutions recognizing Karabakh’s independence. Russia cannot fail to notice these signals and is using “the same factor” to retain its strong influence on Armenia. Some Russian analysts have gone as far as to claim that Armenia is ready to abandon Karabakh for the sake of the Association Agreement with the EU, notes “Hayots Ashkhar.”
“Aravot” says the ongoing civic movement against transport fare hikes in Yerevan is positive in the sense that it cuts across political party lines pursues a “very concrete” objective: to get the municipal administration to rescind its decision. “Those who share this demand are doing their job in different ways which they consider right,” editorializes the paper. “People feel somewhat dear to one another.” It notes that even the owners of expensive cars are offering free rides to citizens standing at bus stops across the city these days. The paper goes on to warn activists against rebuking or mocking those commuters who agree to pay higher fares set by the municipal authorities.
(Tigran Avetisian)