Author: Maghakian Mike

ARKA News Agency
April 26 2005
CTS’ 2005 5th international tourism exhibition to be held in Yerevan
on April 28-30
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament to arrive in Georgia on an
official visit on April 28-29
51,8 of Armenians oppose idea of Turkey’s membership in European
Union
*********************************************************************
CTS’ 2005 5TH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ON APRIL 28-30
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. CTS’ 2005 5th international tourism
exhibition will be held in Yerevan on April 28-30. As the American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) told ARKA News Agency, the exhibition
is organized by the Armenian office of ASTA with the assistance of Ra
ministry of Trade and Economic Development. 2 airline companies, 7
hotel complexes, 1 transportation organization, 13 travel agencies, 1
insurance company, 5 NGOs, 3 publishing houses, 1 news agency and 33
companies from Armenia, Belarus, Iran and Turkey will take part in
the exhibition. The exhibition is considered a traditional event in
the tourism field, which present elite travel companies. L.V. – 0–
*********************************************************************
SPEAKER OF THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO ARRIVE IN GEORGIA ON AN
OFFICIAL VISIT ON APRIL 28-29
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. The Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Arthur Baghdasaryan will arrive on an official visit in Georgia on
April 28-29. As the Public Relations Department of RA NA reported,
the details of the first official visit of Arthur Baghdasaryan to
Georgia were discussed today with the Georgian Ambsaador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze.
Baghdasaryan noted that a broad range of issues will be discussed
during his visit and exporessed confidence that the visit is to
contribute to intensification of mutual cooperation and deepening of
friendly relations of the two countries.
The sides also took up isses of parliamentary cooperation and the
activities of Armenian-Georgian Interparliamentray Commission. The
participants also emphasized the importance of developing cooperation
in economy, scientific and educational field and implementation of
joint projects. L.V.–0 –
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51,8 OF ARMENIANS OPPOSE IDEA OF TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IN EUROPEAN
UNION
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. 51,8 of Armenians are against the idea of
Turkey’s membership in European Union, the public opinion poll
conducted by Armenian centre for National and International Studies
showed. According to the survey, 25,2% supports the idea of Turkey’s
EU membership and 23% of respondents couldn’t answer the question.
50,3% thinks Turkey should admit the fact of Armenian Genocide under
the international community’s pressure, 26,8% – as preliminary
condition for joining the EU, 8% – as result of state policy of
Armenia and 2,4 – as result of Diaspora’s propaganda. The respondents
think Armenia should establish diplomatic relations with Turkey:
21,9% -economic, 14,8% – no relations, 12,1% – comprehensive, 2,1% –
military, 1,4% – cultural. 61,6% of respondents thinks condition will
be put to Turkey for its EU membership to admit the fact of Armenian
Genocide, 12,1% – to respect and ensure ethnic minorities rights in
Turkey, 9,5% – absolute settlement of relatins with Turkey, and 2,7%
– to open Armenian-Turkish borders. M.V. -0–

Zaman, Turkey
April 26 2005
Bush Supports Turkey’s Offer for Joint Commission on Armenian Issue
By Foreign News Desk
Published: Tuesday 26, 2005
zaman.com
US President George W. Bush did not mention the word “genocide” when
referring to the incidents that occurred in 1915 in his statement
issued on April 24 for the commemorations of the so-called Armenian
genocide.
Furthermore, he referred to the report by the International Center
for Transitional Justice (ICJ) that defined incidents that took place
on Ottoman territories about Armenians, as genocide. Referring to
Turkey’s recent offer to form a joint commission to investigate the
Armenian allegations in the statement, Bush added, “We hope that the
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will help the process by
forming a joint Turkish-Armenian commission.” Erdogan recently
offered to form a joint commission to address the incidents that
occurred in 1915 to the Armenian President Robert Kocharian; however,
Yerevan has not yet sent an affirmative response.
While the Armenian lobby in Washington reacted harshly against Bush
for not using the word of “genocide” in his speech, Ankara viewed the
statement “positively”. Diplomatic sources say: “There was
significant pressure on the US administration due to the 90th
anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide allegations. The
Jewish lobby that was traditionally Turkey’s partner had taken
offence with Ankara” and added that not expressing the word
“genocide” showed the strength of Turkish-US relations. Bush
determined in his announcement that 1.5 million Armenians who had
been forcibly expelled and killed in masses during the last days of
the Ottoman Empire and that they are remembered on the Armenian
Commemoration Day. Most of Armenians define the horrible incident as
huge disaster and he sympathizes with all Armenians in the US and
around the world over their loses and he expressed his condolences.
Revealing that they were looking towards the future of the
independent Armenian state while commemorating the 90th anniversary
of the human tragedy, which reflected the pain of Armenian society,
Bush also called on the Armenian administration to extend democratic
freedoms that will allow the realization of the ideals of their
society.

A1plus
| 18:29:31 | 25-04-2005 | Sports |
2 BRONZE MEDALS FROM THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
In the weight-lifting European Championship which finished in Bulgaria the
Armenian weight-lifters won two bronze medals. The first was Arsen Meliqyan
from the 84kg group. In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games he had one a bronze
after which he had no significant results.
The same can be said about Ashot Danielyan who took the 3rd place in the
super-heavy group. Danielyan has been Champion of Europe twice.

Clarin, Argentina
lunes 25 de abril de 2005
90º ANIVERSARIO DE LA MASACRE ORDENADA POR TURQUIA
Una gran marcha recordó el genocidio armenio
Marcelo Cantelmi. EREVAN ENVIADO ESPECIAL
“I was there”. En armenio y en inglés, la frase saltaba de un lado al
otro ayer en Erevan en carteles y remeras durante la gigantesca
marcha de más de un millón de personas que desbordó el monumento al
holocausto alzado en un cerro de esta ciudad. “Yo estuve allí”
decían, el 24 de abril de 1915, cuando comenzó el exterminio de este
pueblo por orden del régimen otomano.
Fue el principal acto en Armenia para recordar la masacre del millón
y medio de paisanos en el primer genocidio del siglo XX. La
ceremonia, con una presencia equivalente a los dos tercios de la
población de este pequeño país caucásico, mostró el carácter de
cuestión nacional que retiene este tema.
Pero también fue una experiencia cercana al asombro para un
observador extranjero. La gente marchó a lo largo de todo el día, por
momentos pecho con espalda, por un sendero empinado de menos de 15
metros de ancho. Familias completas, con sus abuelos, los hijos,
jóvenes con sus novias, montones de niños. La gente grande de
riguroso traje los hombres, y las mujeres con sus ropas de sábado y
domingo, con una elegancia antigua, cada uno llevando una flor.
De tan compacta, la multitud parecía una serpentina viboreando
apiñada en el largo trayecto por el cerro hasta la cima donde se alza
el monumento con una llama permanente. Cantidad de jóvenes con
aquella leyenda en las remeras, banderas y carteles de repudios
contra Turquía le agregaban una sucesión de colores a la columna.
“Turquía falsifica la historia. El mundo no tiene derecho a olvidar
el crimen”, proclamaban los carteles. Arriba, frente a la explanada
del monumento, una orquesta y un coro recibía a la gente. La música
doliente, el intenso calor, el esfuerzo de esa multitud para subir
paso a paso la cuesta le dieron a toda la escena un tono peculiar y
conmovedor.
A lo largo del camino se veían cantidad de ancianos con su propia
historia a cuestas. Uno de ellos, con un traje gastado que el tiempo
le había tanto sacado como agregado colores, sonreía con un diente sí
y otro no, exhibiendo a este enviado la pechera cubierta de medallas,
casi todas ellas ganadas en la Segunda Guerra a las órdenes del
Kremlim.
La ceremonia cuidadosamente preparada tuvo un objetivo político
transparente de presión para que Turquía reconozca la masacre. El
propósito del gobierno y la diáspora, que reúne a más población en el
mundo que en la propia Armenia, fue aún más ambicioso: darle a este
90º aniversario la forma de una ofensiva para que la cuestión del
genocidio abandone el sitio secundario, amenazado por el olvido, que
la historia oficial intentó reservarle.
La masacre fue cometida por orden del Comité de los Jóvenes Turcos
del partido Unión y Progreso, que llegó al poder tras derrocar al
Sultán Rojo, Abdul Hamid II, en la primera década del siglo pasado.
Aquí no hubo cámaras de gas. La gente fue fusilada, hambreada o
enviada al desierto en una masiva deportación. Se lo hizo, con el
argumento de suprimir una supuesta alianza de los armenios cristianos
con Rusia, enemigo de la época de los otomanos en la Primera Guerra.
Al cabo se cumplía una orden ejecutiva que en su texto fríamente
escrito afirmaba: “El gobierno ha decidido destruir por completo a
todos los armenios que viven en Turquía, por muy criminales que
puedan ser las medidas a tomar, y sin tener en cuenta edad ni sexo,
ni escrúpulos de conciencia”. La firmaba Tallat Pasha, ministro del
Interior, Imperio Otomano. Estaba fechada el 15 de setiembre de 1915,
cinco meses después de iniciarse la masacre.

HIS HOLINESS, CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II’s MESSAGE TO ULTIMATE CRIME, ULTIMATE
CHALLENGES HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
Armenpress
YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS: On April 20, His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during
the opening session of the International Conference entitled “Ultimate
Crime, Ultimate Challenge – Human Rights and Genocide”, which convened
in Yerevan, Armenia, dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. His Excellency Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic
of Armenia, and His Holiness Karekin II delivered opening addresses
to the assembled international participants and guests.
Below is the message of His Holiness:
Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Armenia,
Honored Participants and Guests of the Conference,
We greet you who are assembled here for this international conference
on the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and
bring to you blessings from the spiritual center of all Armenians –
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Today is a day of great consolation for our people, that decades later,
international society has focused on the Genocide of the Armenians
implemented at the beginning of the 20th century in Ottoman Turkey,
and which was the most lamentable page in the history of our people
who have seen manifold tribulations.
In the century of enlightenment and the progress of civilization, our
people had the hope of finding personal security, a defense of human
rights, and conditions for a peaceful and creative life. However,
instead they were eliminated from the greatest portion of their
historical homeland within Turkey and in the Armenian-occupied
settlements of the Ottoman Empire. The systematic massacres and
organized exiles were transformed into death sentences; what the sword
could not reach, was finished by starvation and epidemic. The studies
of these events are not lacking for factual testimonies. Today, the
recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, by a number
of states as the greatest of crimes against humanity, fills us with
confidence, that it will find universal recognition and truthful
evaluation.
The 20th century, which began for the Armenian people with the
greatest calamity of Genocide, became the century in the history of
mankind which witnessed two world wars. The same mindset that produced
the dreadful, savage massacres of the Armenians would later create
the concentration camps and the gas chambers. Truly, a new century
begins and it must begin with a new way of thinking, one that rejects
violence and crime, and instead confirms the values of humanity and
compassion. A century when, as the psalmist wishes with yearning,
mercy and truth will meet, and righteousness and peace will embrace. We
the people must create that century. History testifies that ruined
cities are rebuilt with greater ease and conditions of life improve
faster than changes in the thinking of men and the standards of life
– which are the true guarantors of progress and hope for the future.
Likewise, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Republic of
Turkey would become a great victory for human rights and democracy,
without which, Turkey will find the building of a free and joyful
life difficult.
Dear ones, the highest aspiration and goal, the greatest efforts for
all times must be that charity, rights and justice remain victorious
against hatred and enmity, against terrorism and war, and against
all other evils which are present in our contemporary reality, and
are the challenges facing humanity in this century.
This international representative conference is similarly called to
reflect on the challenges of our time. In this sense, the commemoration
of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not only an event,
but also a charge. It is our wish that this conference benefits the
work of having a better and benevolent world, one that manifests the
hopes and desires of mankind.
We extend our appreciation to the organizers of this gathering and
to all of you, and wish manifold successes to the sessions of the
conference.
May the Lord bless us and bless peace, justice and the paths of
brotherhood between nations. We offer prayers and incense to the
memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims. The mercy, grace and love
of God be with the entire world and us always. Amen.

Ankara criticises Poland for condemning Armenian massacres
Radio Polonia, Poland
April 21 2005
21.04.2005
Turkey has sharply criticised Poland for acknowledging the killing
of thousands of Armenians by Turks between 1915 and 1917 as genocide.
Earlier this week Poland joined a list of 15 countries that have
officially acknowledged the killings as genocide when its parliament
passed a resolution condemning the Armenian massacres.
Armenian sources speak about up to 1.5 million victims, while Ankara
counters that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed
during World War I when the Armenians rose against their Ottoman
rulers.
Ankara called the resolution passed by Polish parliament
“irresponsible,” and said it would hurt bilateral relations.

Canada’s capital commemorates Armenian Genocide
20.04.2005 13:49
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – April 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of the first
genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide of 1915. To mark
this important date and honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide
and the victims of genocides that have tragically continued since
1915, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada held an important
Ecumenical and Interfaith prayer and commemoration service at Notre
Dame Cathedral in Ottawa on Friday night April 15, 2005.
This commemoration was notable and received broad coverage from the
media, including CTV Night News, in depth articles in, The Ottawa
Citizen, interviews on local radio stations and many Ottawa area
community newspapers, including the Ottawa Metro.
Honorable Ed Broadbent, former leader of the New Democratic Party,
first president of the International Human Rights Centre, and current
MP for Ottawa Centre, delivered a powerful speech as the ceremony’s
guest speaker.
Mr. Broadbent conveyed to the congregation that “The massacre of
Armenians in 1915 was a clear undisputed act of genocide. While it is
hard to imagine anything worse than war, genocide is, because people
are selected for systematic murder not for what they have done or
for the territory they occupy ~@” but simply for who they are”.
Spiritual leaders from 28 different Church denominations and Interfaith
groups offered their prayers for the victims of genocide and all
violence. Salutations were also offered by Ven. Dr. Thero Sirisumana
Walasmullage of the Buddhist community of Ottawa, and by Mr. Pon
AdcharaMoorthy of the Hindu Community of Ottawa.
Rabbi Reuven Bulka of the Jewish community of Ottawa provided the
salutation of his community, remarking “As you contemplate the great
evil that was heaped upon your community, you cannot even be offered
the comfort that the world has learned a lesson, and this was the
last genocide. Far from it.
The holocaust unfolded not too long after the Armenian genocide. And
most recently, we know all too well what happened in Rwanda, and what
is happening in Darfur, even as we speak~@¦.We need to say a loud,
thunderous NO to the slightest bigotry, the smallest hate, the most
minute racism.”
Dr. Imam Gamal Suleiman of the Muslim community of Ottawa provided
his prayer that “We should strive to learn the truth about the past
and learn from it, not to create or perpetuate hatreds or build walls
between us but to learn from history, seek forgiveness, cleanse our
hearts, and love other creations of God as our larger family.”
The Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Holy Apostolic
Church, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, led the commemoration
service.
The Bishop emphasized that “we are here to join our hands with
the people of good will and raise up our voice against those who
perpetrated the Holocaust, the massacres and ethnic cleansings in
Africa, Poland, the Ukraine, Paraguay, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Rwanda,
East Timor, among other countries, and to say: NEVER AGAIN.”
Bishop Galstanian also proudly stated “we are here not to mourn
but rather to celebrate the martyrdom of a people who has finally
liberated itself from the shackles of a victim and emerged from the
ashes as a victorious nation.”
The service exuded a sense of triumph, and an overwhelming feeling
of hope for the future. One of the few remaining Armenian genocide
survivors, Mrs. Hrachoui Brown, provided a touching and poetic
connection to the tragic past. Mrs. Brown expressed her heartfelt
thanks to Canada for accepting refugees and immigrants and providing
them with a safe and free environment in which to grow and flourish.
Mrs. Brown lit the candles of four young members of the new generation
of Armenians, Chatigne Tachdjian (age 6), Raffi Avedissian (age 7),
Rita Dukmajian (age 10), and Arees Aharonian (age 13). This flame
of remembrance was then passed from these young torchbearers to each
person throughout the church, as the lights in the Church were brought
down to create, a beautiful visual portrait and deep spiritual sense
of peace.
The keynote speaker of the evening was the Archbishop of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa, His Eminence Marcel Gervais. Archbishop
Gervais echoed the theme of memory and forgiveness, stating that
“~@¦memory can feed vengeance and hatred and it can also support
the resolution that such crimes should never happen again, “never
again” to anyone, anywhere.” The Archbishop also quoted the words of
the late Pope John Paul II, who wrote in his message on World Day of
Peace 2002, ~@~XPeace is essential for development, but true peace is
made possible only through forgiveness~@¦.No peace without justice,
no justice without forgiveness.”
The combination of the presence of the participating spiritual leaders,
the thoughtful messages of the speakers, the candle-lighting ceremony,
and the beautiful ancient Armenian hymns, sung by the choir of
St. Gregory the Illuminator from Montreal left the capacity audience
in the large thousand people Notre Dame Cathedral, contemplating the
history of genocide and a renewed hope for the future.
The Diocese was honoured to have among the invitees, representatives
from some 30 embassies and corresponding number of ethnic community
leaders. Bishop Galstanian acknowledged their participation. Notable
among these was H.E. Ara Papian, Ambassador of Armenia to Canada and
his family.
The ecumenical service in Ottawa is part of a Canada-wide commemoration
campaign organized by the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Orthodox Church in association with religious figures of many
denominations and faiths. Similar interfaith services will be held
in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
–Boundary_(ID_BPGT2swZA8KHslsZlrqEig)–

TURKEY ACCESSION TO EU FITS ARMENIA INTERESTS
Pan Armenian News
19.04.2005 05:26
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Defense Minister comes for Turkey’s
accession to the EU, Secretary of the Security Council at the Armenian
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian stated. In his words, it
fits the interests of Armenia itself, as official Ankara will have
to hold reforms both in the domestic and foreign policy. Armenia,
as a participant of the EU Wider Europe: New Neighbors program,
cannot have close borders with an EU member state. Serge Sargsian
again accentuated that Armenia has to resume relations with Turkey
without any preconditions, however it does not mean Turkey should
not recognize the Armenian Genocide.

POLICE OF TALIN NOT TO BLAME
A1plus
| 17:57:16 | 19-04-2005 | Politics |
An incident took place during a meeting of New Times party members
with the residents of the Armenian town of Talin. Today party head Aram
Karapetyan invited journalists to show the shots demonstrating how the
old women and youth tried to upset the meeting. Political Secretary
of the party Emanuel Margaryan assured that the clamor was aroused
by the members of the regional organizations of Orinats Yerkir and RPA.
Aram Karapetyan informed with proud that after the incident one of
the initiators of the incident came up to him to apologize.
“The Talin policemen were assuring me that they are not to blame”,
Karapetyan said.
Today Aram Karapetyan informed that not they but the policemen and
initiators of the incident were beaten.

ARMENIA’S OPPOSITION: IN SEARCH OF A REVOLUTION
Haroutiun Khachatrian 4/19/05
Eurasianet organization
April 19 2005
Opposition predictions of an upcoming “popular revolution” continue
to be heard in Armenia, but most local observers say that major
opposition parties are not well positioned to realize their
revolutionary aspirations.
Following Ukraine’s December 2004 Orange Revolution, media outlets,
both in the West (The Times of London) and the former Soviet Union
(Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta) reported that Armenia could be the
next setting for a so-called “color revolution.” Some Armenian media
outlets went so far as to suggest names for that would-be revolution,
including “The Apricot Revolution” and “The Peach Revolution.”
Since the start of the year, opposition leaders have repeatedly
predicted that President Robert Kocharian’s downfall was imminent. “I
am sure that these authorities cannot stand until the next regular
elections [in 2007],” Aram Sarkisian, leader of the Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) Party, Armenia’s most outspoken opposition party, told
the daily Aravot on January 15. In February 9 the Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) Party issued a declaration of intent to foment popular
protests in April 2005 in order to help push Kocharian from power.
Artashes Geghamian, leader of the National Unity Party, also stated
that his party would launch a popular movement in April, but he
provided no details. Meanwhile, Stepan Demirchian, leader of the
Ardarutiun (Justice) bloc, of which the Republic Party is a member,
has spoken of an upcoming “power shift.”
As yet, the predictions have proven to be more talk than action.
Several factors appear to pose obstacles for the opposition’s plans.
Timing is the first. In Georgia in November 2003, Ukraine last
December, and, most recently, Kyrgyzstan in March 2005, mass protests
followed national elections that the opposition claimed were rigged.
[For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Armenia’s
presidential and parliamentary elections in 2003 were accompanied by
widespread complaints about voting irregularities. However, opposition
parties at the time could not capitalize on the widespread feelings
of discontent. An opposition-led protest campaign fizzled in 2004 when
authorities resorted to tough tactics to disperse demonstrators. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The country’s next
parliamentary election will not occur until 2007, although local
elections are scheduled to be held this fall.
Since the 2004 demonstrations, Armenia’s economy has shown some
improvement, fostering a greater sense of stability in the country.
[For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. “In Armenia, the
peasants know that for most of their problems the community head is
responsible, so they will not blame the central government if, say,
the irrigation canals are not properly cleaned,” said Aharon Adibekian,
director of the sociological agency Sociometr, in a recent interview
with Kentron TV, a private television station. “The situation in
Georgia was quite different, as local [government] bodies did not
work there.”
The opposition’s organizational weaknesses pose a second obstacle.
Observers, including Caucasus Media Institute Yerevan Director
Alexander Iskandarian, believe Armenia’s opposition lacks a charismatic
opposition leader comparable to Georgia’s Mikheil Saakashvili or
Ukraine’s Viktor Yushchenko. Competition rather than partnership has
mostly marked the interactions between the leaders of the two most
influential opposition leaders, Demirchian and Geghamian. When the
two announced a boycott of parliament in early 2004, they hoped to
gain widespread popular support. Instead, one year later, the boycott
appears to have only denied the opposition an opportunity to express
their opinions on the national stage. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].
In addition, opposition parties have been unable to counter Kocharian
administration steps to limit their influence. When, in 2004, police
illegally blocked regular bus traffic in Armenia’s regions to prevent
potential opposition supporters from reaching Yerevan for rallies, the
opposition was unable to develop methods to circumvent authorities’
preventative measures. With that experience in mind, the population
may be less inclined to turn out for opposition-sponsored events
in 2005. “The peach has not matured yet,” the Yerevan-based daily
Aravot concluded.
Apparently sensing that he was potentially vulnerable politically,
Kocharian recently urged politicians to set up a strong opposition.
“[A] [w]eak opposition corrupts the authorities,” he said in a February
2005 online interview with the Golos Armenii (Voice of Armenia)
newspaper. At the same time, Kocharian has stepped up contacts with
the US government, in part to cut off a potential source of support
for opposition politicians. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].
Terming the opposition’s absence from parliament “very painful,”
Kocharian, in an April 11 meeting with students at Yerevan State
University, showed no concern about the possibility of political
upheaval. “I would like to urge our opposition activists to rid
themselves of a complex about failing to stage a revolution,” he said
in remarks broadcast by Armenia Public Television. “We often read
in the press that our opposition is very weak and bad. It has failed
not because it is working badly, but simply because the authorities
in our country are working more effectively and better.”
While the more influential opposition groups appear to be toning
down their revolutionary rhetoric, attempts are underway to create
new anti-Kocharian political blocs. A possible alliance among the
Liberal Progressive Party, Sarkisian’s Republic Party and former
Foreign Minister Raffi Hovhannisian’s Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party has
attracted the most attention to date. Resistance to such a coalition
remains strong in Sarkisian’s Republic Party. If it comes together,
this alliance could prove a serious player in the 2007 parliamentary
elections.
On April 15, Sarkisian told supporters that “the revolution will be a
surprise,” adding that no party should “regard the revolution as its
monopoly,” the Noyan Tapan agency reported. Two days earlier, during a
conference organized by the Justice bloc, Demirchian stressed that “the
change of power” would take place “in a peaceful and constitutional
way,” the news agency ArmInfo reported. “The resignation of the
incumbent authorities is an essential requirement of society around
which all the healthy political forces of the country should unite.”
Such rhetoric does not seem to worry Kocharian. “[M]embers of the
opposition say nothing,” the president told Yerevan State University
students. “The reason is that in order to express your views on
a subject you must know what you are talking about and have some
experience.”
Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.