STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN CONSIDERS THAT ONLY WAY OUT OF GRAVE HOME POLITICAL SITUATION IS SPECIAL ELECTIONS
NOYAN TAPAN
JU LY 15
Stepan Demirchian, the Chairman of the People’s Party of Armenia, a
participant of the People’s Movement, at the July 15 press conference
expressed the hope that Thomas Hammarberg, the Commissioner for Human
Rights of the Council of Europe, will present an unbiassed report on
Armenia to the PACE Monitoring Commission in September.
The Commissioner, according to Stepan Demirchian, in particular,
cannot but admit that those imprisoned by the March 1 case are
prosecuted for their political views.
The PPA leader stated that opposition’s readiness to start a dialogue
with the authorities after releasing the political prisoners is valid.
As S. Demirchian evaluated, it will be possible to improve the grave
political and moral-psychological situation formed in the country
as a result of the March 1 tragic events only through special state
elections.
Holding of fair, transparent elections, according to him, is the only
guarantee of establishment of stability in Armenia.
The PPA leader reaffirmed the statement made by first RA President
Levon Ter-Petrosian at the July 4 rally, according to which, in case
those in detention are not released at the end of the sit-down strike,
on August 1, the opposition will demand the resignation of President
Serzh Sargsyan. S.
Demirchian said that in any case the oppositionists will act only
within the law. "And if the authorities think that the people will get
tired and stop the struggle after some time, it is not so," he said.