“Zhamanak” says that the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the Zharangutyun (Heritage) party are not officially demanding the conduct of snap elections in their ongoing campaign of nationwide anti-government protests. The paper says that this fact is making their joint actions even more confusing. “Is there any issue at all on their agenda?” it asks. “There is of course an issue: constitutional changes [planned by President Serzh Sarkisian.] The non-governing forces are trying to concentrate on this issue … This is the only issue on which they are able to put aside their extremely serious differences, which they would not be able to paper over in case of fresh elections or Serzh Sarkisian’s resignation.”
“Zhoghovurd” says that if the opposition trio is serious about achieving positive changes in Armenia then it must not only seek to thwart the constitutional reform and push through some bills but also openly strive for regime change. “The trio is still not demanding it, however,” notes the paper. It dismisses tough anti-Sarkisian statements that are made by leaders of the opposition HAK and Zharangutyun, saying that it is Gagik Tsarukian’s BHK that plays the decisive role in their campaign. It says that if Tsarukian continues to avoid calling for Sarkisian’s ouster he and his party will be comprehensively defeated by the authorities.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” claims, meanwhile, that the three opposition parties have already “drastically changed the political situation” in Armenia with their rallies held in several regional towns in recent days. The pro-HAK daily says that relatively large crowds attracted by them are a cause for serious concern for the Armenian authorities.
“168 Zham” is unhappy with what it sees as a lack of public debate on the content of Armenia’s draft accession treaty with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which was made public by the Armenian Foreign Ministry last week. The paper claims that the treaty obligates Armenia to set up a customs checkpoint on the border with Nagorno-Karabakh. Such a move would be “dangerous” for Armenia and Karabakh, it says.
(Tigran Avetisian)