“Hayots Ashkhar” discusses differences among Armenia’s main opposition parties. Those revolve around foreign policy, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the country’s broader development priorities. The paper speculates that as the elections approach the former ruling HHSh and its satellites are trying to come up with a compromise formula that would bring together all major opposition forces. But the only factor that unites them for the moment is the hatred of the current authorities. The paper also thinks that HZhK leader Stepan Demirchian is the most likely joint candidate of the opposition forces in the next presidential elections.
“In reality, these authorities are very weak and survive only with the help of the punitive law-enforcement truncheon and the bureaucratic system,” a prominent opposition figure, David Shahnazarian, tells “Haykakan Zhamanak.” Shahnazarian, whose party has decided to merge with the HHSh, believes that Robert Kocharian will have “zero chances” of holding on to power if he faces a popular and united opposition front. Shahnazarian, who was Armenia’s national security minister in the 1990s, also castigates his former deputy Gurgen Yeghiazarian for strong attacks on the HHSh government. Shahnazarian says if Yeghiazarian's allegations that the former authorities are guilty of grave crimes are true, then Yeghiazarian must be held responsible for not preventing them. And if they are false, Yeghiazarian must be brought to account for slander.
“Everybody except employees of international organizations and our own government structures is fed up with the so-called talk in favor of the poor. They are paid substantial salaries for that talk,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “In reality, nothing is changing and can not change in a country which seems to have petrified on 10-dollar pensions and salaries.” Instead of talking about poverty reduction, the authorities should “stop pretending that they are fighting against corruption, theft, illegalities.” “After all, things that have to be given to the poor must be taken away from someone. According to experts, the richest 20 percent segment of the population earns 30 times more than the poorest 20 percent.”
“Aravot” refers to Armenian-Russian dealings as “unanswered love.” “Should we continue our strategic relationship with a state the weakening of which is admitted even by Russian politicians?” The Armenian political elite should seriously think about this, the paper says.
“Azg” says that official Yerevan’s reaction to the recent geopolitical changes in the region has not been adequate. “In any normal country security issues are discussed by an independent security council which is responsible for deciding on the main priorities of foreign and security policies. In Armenia, such a structure exists only formally, which hasn’t worked at all.” It is therefore not clear how the Armenian government takes strategic decisions.
(Vache Sarkisian)
“In reality, these authorities are very weak and survive only with the help of the punitive law-enforcement truncheon and the bureaucratic system,” a prominent opposition figure, David Shahnazarian, tells “Haykakan Zhamanak.” Shahnazarian, whose party has decided to merge with the HHSh, believes that Robert Kocharian will have “zero chances” of holding on to power if he faces a popular and united opposition front. Shahnazarian, who was Armenia’s national security minister in the 1990s, also castigates his former deputy Gurgen Yeghiazarian for strong attacks on the HHSh government. Shahnazarian says if Yeghiazarian's allegations that the former authorities are guilty of grave crimes are true, then Yeghiazarian must be held responsible for not preventing them. And if they are false, Yeghiazarian must be brought to account for slander.
“Everybody except employees of international organizations and our own government structures is fed up with the so-called talk in favor of the poor. They are paid substantial salaries for that talk,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “In reality, nothing is changing and can not change in a country which seems to have petrified on 10-dollar pensions and salaries.” Instead of talking about poverty reduction, the authorities should “stop pretending that they are fighting against corruption, theft, illegalities.” “After all, things that have to be given to the poor must be taken away from someone. According to experts, the richest 20 percent segment of the population earns 30 times more than the poorest 20 percent.”
“Aravot” refers to Armenian-Russian dealings as “unanswered love.” “Should we continue our strategic relationship with a state the weakening of which is admitted even by Russian politicians?” The Armenian political elite should seriously think about this, the paper says.
“Azg” says that official Yerevan’s reaction to the recent geopolitical changes in the region has not been adequate. “In any normal country security issues are discussed by an independent security council which is responsible for deciding on the main priorities of foreign and security policies. In Armenia, such a structure exists only formally, which hasn’t worked at all.” It is therefore not clear how the Armenian government takes strategic decisions.
(Vache Sarkisian)