SARGSYAN TO TOLERATE OPPOSITION MEETINGS
Interfax News Agency
June 17 2008
Russia
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan says an opposition meeting scheduled
for June 20 represents no threat.Everything will be peaceful, and
there is nothing unusual in holding a meeting on June 20, he told
Armenian TV.
This country has always seen mass rallies, and I have repeatedly
stated that I will defend the right of citizens to express their will.
For example, our citizens freely express their opinions on TV and in
the press, he said.
If mass events go beyond the law, the police are fully responsible
for dealing with this. Nobody has the right to conceal his criminal
intentions under a democratic slogan. All offenses against the law
and order should be strictly suppressed. Strictly, but not brutally,
he said.
There is no point of holding an early parliamentary election, he
said. Only in a case where 100% of the population votes in the
election, and one party garners 100% of the vote, are there no
malcontents. All of us realize that it is impossible, Armenian TV
channels quoted Sargsyan as saying.
The winners ought to realize that there are those who have lost,
and the contented people ought to realize that there are malcontents,
he said.
Sargsyan advised the opposition to abide by the law.