“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” says that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun’s return to President Serzh Sarkisian’s government is a forgone conclusion despite cautious statements to that effect made by Vahram Baghdasarian, the parliamentary leader of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). “What unites [the HHK and Dashnaktsutyun] and on what issues do they disagree?” asks the paper. “For instance, the Republicans claim to be fighting against corruption so that Armenia becomes a modern and developed country. Dashnaktsutyun members would say that they fight against corruption in order for Armenia to become a mighty country and liberate its historical homeland.”
“The main difference lies in their rhetoric. Everything else is the same. The two ‘free souls’ have found each other,” “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” concludes bitingly.
“Zhamanak” comments on Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian’s remark that Russia’s confrontation with Turkey harms Armenia. “This statement testifies to the fact that Armenia is not a sovereign state,” claims the paper. “If Armenia was a sovereign state then the complications in Russian-Turkish relations would be more of an opportunity than a danger for Armenia.” It fears that in these circumstances Armenia could be drawn into the Russian-Turkish standoff and be “used against Ankara” by Moscow.
“168 Zham” sees major opportunities for bolstering Armenia’s economic ties with Iran, especially considering Georgia’s uneasy dealings with Russia. The paper says that Armenian-Iranian trade has slowly but steadily decreased in the last few years. “We are now pondering on ways of drawing benefits from the developing Russian-Iranian relations … We have probably still not mapped out our actions on this front,” it complains.
(Anush Mkrtchian)