Press Review

Analyzing the latest visit of the OSCE co-chairmen, "Hayots Ashkarh" writes that the basic goal of the visit of international mediators to the region was to ease the tensions created after the Azerbaijani statements on resumption of war and the Armenian response to the war rhetoric of Azerbaijani politicians. Judging from the restraint and peaceful statements of the Azeri president following his four-hour meeting with the OCSE co-chairmen in Baku, one can assume that Heidar Aliyev fully satisfied the wish of the mediators.

A member of the coordinating council of the "National Accord Front", Ashot Manucharian told "Haikakan Zhamanak" that his organization is keeping a passive stance because of recent global developments. According to Ashot Manucharian, the activities of the three allied opposition parties is very important in the current global situation and his organization doesn't want to create obstacles without coordinating its steps with that coalition. Actions by foreign countries against Armenia is now possible and if there is an alternative force in the country then the foreign pressure would be directed against the authorities. But if there is no alternative force then foreign strikes could be directed against the country, said Ashot Manucharian adding that because of this possibility even the ruling political circles in Armenia should not seek to weaken and destroy the opposition.

According to an "Aravot" report the director of the "Ararat Cement" factory Aram Sarkissian, a leader of the radical opposition has presented his resignation letter after Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and Minister of Trade and Industry Karen Jshmaritian asked him to choose between politics and Business.

"We agree with Arkadi Vardanian when he said that the current authorities are not a political force, have no policy and have no political base," said the leading member of the Hanrapetutyune party, Aram Sarkissian in his interview to "Haikakan Zhamanak". The paper suggests that the issue of Arkadi Vardanian’s return to Armenia depends on the leaders of two opposition parties, the People’s Party (HZhK) and Republic Party(Hanrapetutyune). We can discuss the possibility of cooperation with Arkadi Vardanian if he returns and establishes his residency in Armenia, said Aram Sarkissian. I would welcome his return if he decides to return to Armenia, said the opposition politician.

"Yerkir" reports that the majority in the Armenian parliament does not accept the activities of the radical opposition against the president. According to the paper, the coalition of the opposition parties has failed to gather the necessary votes in the parliament to start the impeachment procedures against President Kocharian.