“Aravot” says that Armenia lacks the natural and other resources to be a dictatorship. “Our relations with neighbors are extremely tense and international attitude [towards Armenia,] especially after the recent events, is alarming, to say the least,” says the paper. Besides, it says, the Armenian public is not putting up with government’s latest authoritarian tendencies. “So what is Armenia’s ruling regime pinning its hopes on as it limits people’s civil liberties in an unprecedented fashion and fills prisons with people undesirable for it?”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” dismisses President Robert Kocharian’s claims that Armenia can find other sources of funding for multimillion-dollar rural infrastructure projects if the U.S. suspends its participation in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. “If we are able to do everything with internal resources, then why do we have laws stimulating foreign investments?” asks the opposition paper. It says there is only one country in the world that lives off its internal resources: North Korea.
“Hayots Ashkhar” maintains that Russia expressed strong support for Armenia’s current leadership by inviting Serzh Sarkisian to Moscow. The paper says the Kremlin has demonstrated that the Armenian presidential election was won by “the candidate with whom Russia wants to work” and that it will counter any Western pressure on him.
“Zhamanak Yerevan” claims that Sarkisian was forced by opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian to form a new coalition government, rather than rely only on his Republican Party (HHK), after taking office. The paper says Sarkisian and the HHK did not plan to share power with anyone before the presidential election.
“The Republican Party has a majority in parliament and can push through any decision without needing anyone’s agreement,” writes “Hayk.” “They seem to be telling other political forces, ‘See, we don’t need you but are doing you a favor by offering you government positions.’ This is what makes the Armenian coalition different from coalitions formed in European countries. It’s a political curtain, not a political necessity. Serzh Sarkisian needs the [three] other parties to mislead the Armenian public and the international community and to soften protests against the election results.”
(Atom Markarian)
“Haykakan Zhamanak” dismisses President Robert Kocharian’s claims that Armenia can find other sources of funding for multimillion-dollar rural infrastructure projects if the U.S. suspends its participation in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. “If we are able to do everything with internal resources, then why do we have laws stimulating foreign investments?” asks the opposition paper. It says there is only one country in the world that lives off its internal resources: North Korea.
“Hayots Ashkhar” maintains that Russia expressed strong support for Armenia’s current leadership by inviting Serzh Sarkisian to Moscow. The paper says the Kremlin has demonstrated that the Armenian presidential election was won by “the candidate with whom Russia wants to work” and that it will counter any Western pressure on him.
“Zhamanak Yerevan” claims that Sarkisian was forced by opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian to form a new coalition government, rather than rely only on his Republican Party (HHK), after taking office. The paper says Sarkisian and the HHK did not plan to share power with anyone before the presidential election.
“The Republican Party has a majority in parliament and can push through any decision without needing anyone’s agreement,” writes “Hayk.” “They seem to be telling other political forces, ‘See, we don’t need you but are doing you a favor by offering you government positions.’ This is what makes the Armenian coalition different from coalitions formed in European countries. It’s a political curtain, not a political necessity. Serzh Sarkisian needs the [three] other parties to mislead the Armenian public and the international community and to soften protests against the election results.”
(Atom Markarian)