Press Review

“Aravot” raises a question in its editorial: “What does it mean – we are a constructive opposition and therefore we choose to demand the resignation of the foreign minister rather than the president.”
In a clear reference to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), the paper writes: “This code speech can be spelled out as follows: “Dear authorities, we are all yours and want to preserve our places in the corrupt middle chain of the bureaucratic system, we want to keep our large and medium-sized businesses as well as illegal money flows from abroad. But allow us to play opposition in certain national issues so that people do not get ultimately disappointed with us.”

“Hayk” writes on President Serzh Sarkisian’s visit to the Police Training Center and Police Academy.

“The most naïve would think that Sarkisian gathered the police to tell them that it is not allowed to commit violence against young people distributing leaflets, brutally beat arrested people, rough up young people and teenagers, and swear at women protesters. The important thing, however, is that with this visit Sarkisian made it clear to the Armenian people that he has no intention of reforming the police and is not going to punish the policemen who violate fundamental human rights in the grossest possible way,” the paper writes.

“Hraparak” asks former foreign minister Aleksandr Arzumanian whether it is possible that some document has already been signed in the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks over Nagorno-Karabakh, considering the recent disclosure of the Madrid principles. Arzumanian answers: “There have been many such cases in history. The most notorious one was the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact [signed between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany]. But such things are impossible to hide in the modern-day world. I exclude that anything has been signed secretly. But I understand the concerns of many that all issues connected with the future agreement have already been coordinated at this stage.”

“Azg” writes on gambling in Armenia, criticizing casinos for targeting the young for the purpose of gain.

“The fact that casinos attract young people through bringing famous singers from abroad to sing only at their places is very alarming,” the paper writes, adding that it receives numerous calls especially from the parents and wives of the young people who can’t stop gambling.