ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL DIALOGUE WITH OPPOSITION, BUT NOT ON PRE-TERM ELECTIONS: SHARMAZANOV
epress.am
05.30.2011 15:19
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) parliamentary faction secretary
Eduard Sharmazanov, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today, said
the “political spring” was heated, but also constructive and aimed
at unity.
“And the 2011 spring positively differentiated from recent political
springs in that both the opposition, whether that be parliamentary
or extra-parliamentary and, in the first place, the authorities
made great efforts toward establishing an environment of dialogue,
solidarity and tolerance in Armenia,” he said.
Referring to the recent amnesty approved by parliament as well as
amendments to the RA Criminal Code, Sharmazanov stressed that in this
sense, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made an important move when
on Apr. 27 he pointed out that he is willing to take steps toward
establishing and developing a political culture in the country,
as well as easing the tension in the domestic political climate.
The authorities’ positive steps, in Sharmazanov’s opinion, were well
received by their extra-parliamentary colleagues. “And even the first
president [Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrossian]
assessed this stage positively, saying he is moving toward open
dialogue; moreover, noting that dialogue shouldn’t be interrupted.”
Weighing in on democratic reforms in the country, the HHK spokesperson
cited a segment of Sargsyan’s May 28 speech where, in Sharmazanov’s
words, the president established a new political agenda and proposed
a new resolution for political entities and, in the first place,
for the ruling coalition.
“And this resolution lies in the fact that the rights of individuals
and citizens are as important as collective national interests. The
strongest bulwark against domestic and foreign tremors and defense
against external enemies and internal illegalities are free citizens,
and only through the existence of free citizens are we able to
reach our goals and our dreamed Armenia. This is a new phenomenon in
Armenia’s political field,” he said.
To journalists’ observation that the Armenian National Congress says
it has one subject to have a dialogue with the authorities on and
that is pre-term presidential elections, Sharmazanov said he sees
neither the likelihood nor a political or legal reason for holding
early elections at this time.
Asked in that case, what will the authorities have a dialogue with
the opposition about, the HHK spokesperson said they will dialogue
on important political, economic and foreign issues.