X
    Categories: 2018

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/26/2018

                                        Thursday, 

Armenian Ruling Party Open To Talks With Pashinian


ARMENIA -- A woman reacts during a rally held by supporters of Armenian 
opposition leader Nikol Pashinian in Yerevan, 

Facing growing pressure to hand over power to Nikol Pashinian, the ruling 
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) said late on Wednesday that it is ready to 
discuss “any issue” with the opposition leader following Prime Minister Serzh 
Sarkisian’s resignation.

The HHK also indicated that it will replace Sarkisian, who technically remains 
the party chairman, with a new leader.

The HHK’s parliamentary faction made the announcement after its members met 
with Sarkisian and acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetian to discuss the 
continuing political crisis in Armenia.

In a statement, it said Sarkisian, who served two presidential terms from 
2008-2018, gave “more detailed explanations” for his decision to step down just 
six days after being elected prime minister by the HHK-controlled parliament. 
The ex-president also urged HHK lawmakers to regard “stability and the 
country’s security” as their chief priority.

According to the statement, the “second half of the meeting” was held in 
Sarkisian’s absence and focused on the government’s standoff with protesters 
led by Pashinian. The participants agreed to declare that “the HHK faction is 
prepared to discuss any issues with all sides without preconditions,” added the 
statement.

The meeting came as Pashinian, who leads the opposition Civil Contract party, 
held another big rally in Yerevan to demand that the parliament appoint him as 
interim prime minister and call snap elections. “We demand an explicit and 
unconditional capitulation of the Republican Party to the people,” he said.

Pashinian warned that his supporters will “blockade” the parliament building 
and the prime minister’s office in Yerevan if the HHK majority in the National 
Assembly moves to install Karapetian as prime minister. He accused the latter 
of illegally occupying the country’s top executive post.

“We are saying at this square that the Armenian people have a candidate for 
prime minister and the National Assembly factions must reckon with this 
political reality and nominate that candidate by consensus,” Pashinian said, 
clearly referring to himself. He urged supporters to continue to demonstrate 
and block streets and roads on Thursday.

Pashinian and Karapetian had been scheduled to meet on Wednesday morning. The 
meeting was called off after the acting premier rejected preconditions set by 
Pashinian.




Armenian Parliament To Choose New PM On May 1

        • Karlen Aslanian

Armenia -- The National Assembly meets to elect Serzh Sarkisian prime minister, 
17Apr2018

The Armenian parliament will meet on May 1 to elect the country’s new prime 
minister after two weeks of sustained street protests which forced the previous 
premier, Serzh Sarkisian, to step down.

Sarkisian’s successor is expected to serve on an interim basis, until the 
holding of snap parliamentary elections now demanded by most Armenian political 
factions.

Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian, the main organizer of the massive protests, 
has been pressing the National Assembly controlled by Sarkisian’s Republican 
Party (HHK) to appoint him to that post. Pashinian claimed on Wednesday that 
some HHK parliamentarians are ready to vote for him.

In an overnight statement, the HHK’s parliamentary faction offered to “discuss 
any issues with all sides without preconditions.” The statement followed its 
members’ meeting with Sarkisian and acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetian.

Pashinian refused to comment on the HHK statement as he again led thousands of 
supporters marching in Yerevan on Thursday.He also declined a comment on his 
late-night meeting with Gagik Tsarukian, a businessman leading the second 
largest parliamentary force, the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).

The BHK on Wednesday told its members to take to the streets and join 
Pashinian’s movement. But it has yet to officially confirm whether its 
parliament deputies will vote to elect Pashinian prime minister.

While continuing to rally supporters, the 42-year-old opposition leader urged 
Armenians to stop blocking streets in the capital for now. He argued that the 
daily blockades are increasingly abused by unruly car drivers, resulting in 
traffic chaos.

Meanwhile, President Armen Sarkissian, who has largely ceremonial powers, 
hailed Pashinian’s “popular movement” on Thursday in his latest address to the 
nation. “We are now opening a new page of Armenian history,” he said. “We live 
in a New Armenia.”

Sarkissian called on the parliamentary forces to jointly end the political 
crisis which was triggered by Serzh Sarkisian’s controversial decision to 
extend his decade-long rule.




Senior Armenian Officials Visit Moscow

        • Emil Danielyan
        • Arman Hovhannisyan

RUSSIA -- A view of Kremlin' Grand Kremlin Palace, center, Towers, Churches and 
frozen Moskva (Moscow) river in Moscow, February 14, 2018

Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgian and Foreign Minister Edward 
Nalbandian held talks with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday amid the 
continuing political crisis in their country.

An Armenian government statement said Gevorgian met with senior officials from 
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s staff. It said they discussed, among other 
things, “the internal political situation in Armenia.”

Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, did not confirm the information, 
however. “I am not aware of that,” the Interfax news agency quoted him as 
telling reporters. “As you know, we are in Saint Petersburg right now.”

According to the TASS news agency, Peskov reiterated that the street protests 
that have forced Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian into resignation are Armenia’s 
“internal affair.” “We want to hope that the situation will be settled as soon 
as possible within the constitutional framework,” he said.

Putin phoned his new Armenian counterpart, Armen Sarkissian, on Wednesday to 
discuss the lingering crisis. According to the Kremlin, he said that “all 
political forces in the country need to display restraint and readiness to 
solve existing problems through a constructive dialogue.”

Also on Wednesday, Russian diplomats in Yerevan met with Nikol Pashinian, an 
opposition politician leading the nationwide protests against Sarkisian and the 
ruling Republican Party of Armenia. Addressing thousands of supporters 
afterwards, Pashinian said he received assurances that Russia will not meddle 
in Armenian politics. He blasted “false” rumors that Moscow wants to see acting 
Prime Minister Karen Karapetian retain his post.

Meanwhile, Nalbandian met with Russian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. 
“They discussed, in particular, the situation on the Line of Contact between 
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan,” a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria 
Zakharova, told reporters.Neither Zakharova nor the Armenian Foreign Ministry 
gave further details of the talks.

Earlier this week, the Armenian government and the Karabakh military accused 
Azerbaijan of massing troops and military hardware along the Karabakh 
frontlines. Yerevan warned Baku against attempting exploit the political 
turmoil in Armenia to launch offensive military operations. The Azerbaijani 
Defense Ministry denied the Armenian claims.

Responding to those claims, U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the 
OSCE Minsk Group issued a joint statement underscoring “the critical importance 
of the sides respecting the ceasefire at this delicate time and, in particular, 
keeping heavy equipment positioned in the rear of the frontlines.”




Putin Weighs In On Armenian Crisis

        • Emil Danielyan
        • Arman Hovhannisyan

ARMENIA -- Armenian opposition supporters attend a rally in downtown Yerevan, 


Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for a quick solution to the 
political crisis in Armenia which would reflect the outcome of last year’s 
parliamentary elections won by Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK).

Putin telephoned Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetian to discuss 
the continuing political crisis in the country.

“It was emphasized that the settlement of the crisis situation in Armenia must 
happen in the solely legal field, within the framework of the current 
constitution, and on the basis of the results of the legitimate parliamentary 
elections held in April 2017,” the Kremlin said in a readout of the phone call.

In that context, Putin “accentuated on the importance of the election by the 
parliament of the republic’s prime minister scheduled for May 1, 2018,” it 
added.

The two men spoke as Karapetian and the HHK faced growing pressure to hand over 
power to Nikol Pashinian, the organizer of ongoing nationwide protests in 
Armenia that have forced Sarkisian to resign as prime minister. Karapetian’s 
reluctance to let Pashinian become interim prime minister drew a furious 
reaction from the opposition leader on Wednesday.


RUSSIA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Armenian counterpart 
Serzh Sarkisian speak in front of guests as they visit the exhibition of 
Armenian painter Martiros Saryan in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, November 
15, 2017
Pashinian met with Russian diplomats in Yerevan earlier on Wednesday. 
Addressing thousands of supporters afterwards, he said he received assurances 
that Russia will not meddle in Armenian politics. He blasted “false” rumors 
about Russian support for Karapetian, a former Gazprom executive who lived in 
Russia from 2011-2016.

Putin spoke with Karapetian as Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgian 
and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian held talks with other Russian officials 
in Moscow.

An Armenian government statement said Gevorgian met with top Kremlin officials. 
It said they discussed, among other things, “the internal political situation 
in Armenia.”

Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, did not confirm the information, 
however. “I am not aware of that,” the Interfax news agency quoted him as 
telling reporters. “As you know, we are in Saint Petersburg right now.”

According to the TASS news agency, Peskov reiterated that the street protests 
are Armenia’s “internal affair.” “We want to hope that the situation will be 
settled as soon as possible within the constitutional framework,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nalbandian met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “They 
discussed, in particular, the situation on the Line of Contact between 
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan,” a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria 
Zakharova, told reporters. Neither Zakharova nor the Armenian Foreign Ministry 
gave further details of the talks.

Earlier this week, the Armenian government and the Karabakh military accused 
Azerbaijan of massing troops and military hardware along the Karabakh 
frontlines. Yerevan warned Baku against attempting exploit the political 
turmoil in Armenia to launch offensive military operations. The Azerbaijani 
Defense Ministry denied the Armenian claims.

Responding to those claims, U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the 
OSCE Minsk Group issued a joint statement underscoring “the critical importance 
of the sides respecting the ceasefire at this delicate time and, in particular, 
keeping heavy equipment positioned in the rear of the frontlines.”




Armenian Protest Leader Offers Talks With Government

        • Karlen Aslanian
        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenia - Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian addresses supporters in Yerevan's 
Republic Square, .

Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian on Thursday offered to negotiate with acting 
Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, while insisting that the ruling Republican 
Party of Armenia (HHK) must let him become interim premier.

Pashinian ruled out any “compromise with the corrupt and anti-democratic 
government system” as he addressed thousands of supporters in Yerevan.

“There can be no deals behind the people’s back,” he said. “Either I will be 
elected prime minister through the people and with the support of the people, 
or no prime minister of Armenia will be elected at all.”

“We expect all factions in the National Assembly to unconditionally recognize 
the victory of the people,” he said.

Pashinian went on to declare that he is ready to meet Karapetian to discuss 
these demands on Friday. But he said the meeting can only be held in the 
presence of the press.

“We won’t be negotiating with the HHK behind the closed doors,” he told the 
crowd repeatedly chanting “Nikol, prime minister!”

The two men had already been scheduled to meet on Tuesday morning, the day 
after massive street demonstrations led by Pashinian forced Prime Minister 
Serzh Sarkisian to resign. Those talks were cancelled after Karapetian rejected 
preconditions set by Pashinian.

The HHK on Wednesday expressed readiness to discuss “any issue” with Pashinian 
“without preconditions.” The party’s chief spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, 
reaffirmed this on Thursday.

“We do not reject the agenda put forward by Pashinian or other figures,” 
Sharmazanov told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “But we also expect 
the same constructive approach from our partners.”

Sharmazanov declined to specify concessions which the HHK is ready to make to 
the Pashinian-led opposition. Nor would he say whether it could install him as 
interim premier and hold snap parliamentary elections.


Armenia - Acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetian (R) meets U.S. Ambassador 
Richard Mills, Yerevan, 25Apr2018

Sharmazanov also denied Pashinian’s earlier claims that Karapetian has no 
mandate to negotiate on behalf of the HHK. “Karen Karapetian has the full 
support of our team,” he said.

The HHK, which has until now been headed by Serzh Sarkisian, controls 58 of the 
105 seats in Armenia’s parliament. The National Assembly is scheduled to meet 
and elect the next prime minister on May 1.

So far only the opposition Yelk alliance, of which Pashinian is a leading 
member, has explicitly backed his demands. Yelk holds 9 parliament seats.

The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of businessman Gagik Tsarukian is 
represented in the parliament by 31 deputies. The BHK voiced support for 
Pashinian’s popular movement on Wednesday. Tsarukian and Pashinian met later in 
the day.

A senior BHK representative, Nair Zohrabian, declined to say on Thursday 
whether the BHK lawmakers will vote for Pashinian on May 1, saying that 
negotiations with the protest leader are “going on.” “I can only say that 
Tsarukian’s bloc will take the people’s voice into account when making a 
decision,” she said.

Pashinian also announced that he will hold a rally in Gyumri on Friday evening 
and take his campaign to Vanadzor the following day. The demonstrations in 
Yerevan, will resume on Sunday, he said.

Earlier in the day, Pashinian urged supporters to stop blocking streets in the 
capital. He argued that the daily blockades are increasingly abused by unruly 
car drivers, resulting in traffic chaos.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org


Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS