Associated Press Worldstream
October 23, 2004 Saturday
Armenian opposition party says its lawmakers will continue boycott of
parliament
YEREVAN, Armenia
Armenia’s largest opposition party said Saturday that its lawmakers
would continue to boycott parliamentary sessions in this ex-Soviet
republic.
Two dozen lawmakers have refused to attend parliament since February
to protest last year’s re-election of President Robert Kocharian, a
vote the opposition charges was marred by widespread irregularities.
The protesting lawmakers want to change the law on referendums so a
vote can be held asking Armenians if they have confidence in
Kocharian, who critics say has violently cracked down on dissent,
allowed corruption to flourish and done little to improve the lot of
impoverished Armenia’s 3.3 million people.
“Everyone who tries to resist the authorities’ illegal activity, who
fights for justice and welfare is subjected to beatings, repression
and arrest,” said Stepan Demirchian, who leads the opposition
National Party of Armenia. “Under such conditions, we can’t
participate in the work of the National Assembly.”
Speaking at his party’s national congress on Saturday, Demirchian
said that “a dialogue with authorities is possible only when they act
within the framework of the law.” He pledged that the parliamentary
boycott would continue.
Thirteen of the lawmakers boycotting parliamentary sessions are from
a bloc of opposition parties which includes Demirchians’ party; the
others represent other opposition groups.
Demirchian took over the leadership of the National Party in October
1999 after its founder, his father Karen Demirchian, was killed when
gunmen attacked parliament in what some suspect was a politically
motivated killing.
The younger Demirchian ran for president last year but lost in the
second round.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress