“Zhamanak” voices misgivings over the anticipated reappointment of Tigran Sarkisian and most members of his cabinet, pointing the government’s failure to reduce widespread poverty in the country. The paper says that President Serzh Sarkisian’s decision to keep them is a “political” one. “That is, socioeconomic policy in Armenia is being sacrificed for political relations existing within the government system,” it says.
Eduard Sharmazanov, the deputy parliament speaker and spokesman for the ruling Republican Party (HHK), tells “Irates de facto” that the opposition parties that boycotted the February 18 presidential elections are now “politicizing” the May 5 elections in Yerevan to “prove that they are political players.” “Their real fight is for coming into play and proving that they are the opposition leaders,” Sharmazanov says. He is particularly scathing about Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). “The BHK did not formulate a political position in the presidential elections. And to wake up now, after a hibernating for three months, for taking Yerevan is just ridiculous. It is absurd when the number two parliamentary force does not tell its electorate anything,” adds Sharmazanov.
Petros Makeyan, a prominent opposition politician, makes the case for a collective leadership of the Armenian opposition in an interview with “Hraparak.” He gives the example of a 12-member committee and its nationwide divisions that led the 1988 popular movement for Karabakh’s unification with Armenia. Makeyan believes that this structure ensured respect for “all democratic principles.”
“Aravot” comments on the recent resignation of Grigor Amalian, the controversial chairman of the National Commission on Television and Radio that pulled the A1+ TV station off the air in 2002. “If his name is ever mentioned in history it will figure only in that [A1+] context,” writes the paper. “Five or seven years ago that event (Amalian’s resignation) would have been significant and sparked discussions. Media would have started speculating about who will take his place. Today that is absolutely unimportant because the concepts of airtime and broadcasting channels have changed their meanings.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Eduard Sharmazanov, the deputy parliament speaker and spokesman for the ruling Republican Party (HHK), tells “Irates de facto” that the opposition parties that boycotted the February 18 presidential elections are now “politicizing” the May 5 elections in Yerevan to “prove that they are political players.” “Their real fight is for coming into play and proving that they are the opposition leaders,” Sharmazanov says. He is particularly scathing about Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). “The BHK did not formulate a political position in the presidential elections. And to wake up now, after a hibernating for three months, for taking Yerevan is just ridiculous. It is absurd when the number two parliamentary force does not tell its electorate anything,” adds Sharmazanov.
Petros Makeyan, a prominent opposition politician, makes the case for a collective leadership of the Armenian opposition in an interview with “Hraparak.” He gives the example of a 12-member committee and its nationwide divisions that led the 1988 popular movement for Karabakh’s unification with Armenia. Makeyan believes that this structure ensured respect for “all democratic principles.”
“Aravot” comments on the recent resignation of Grigor Amalian, the controversial chairman of the National Commission on Television and Radio that pulled the A1+ TV station off the air in 2002. “If his name is ever mentioned in history it will figure only in that [A1+] context,” writes the paper. “Five or seven years ago that event (Amalian’s resignation) would have been significant and sparked discussions. Media would have started speculating about who will take his place. Today that is absolutely unimportant because the concepts of airtime and broadcasting channels have changed their meanings.”
(Tigran Avetisian)