Tweet
OPPOSITION ATTEMPTING TO CREATE INSTABILITY IN ARMENIA - PRESIDENT
Interfax News Agency
June 24 2008
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he is prepared to talk to the
opposition, although he added that his opponents seek to destabilize
the country, not reach a consensus.
"I have said on many occasions that I am ready, guided by Armenia's
interests, to sit down at a negotiating table and work with any
political force," Sargsyan told representatives of the Armenian ethnic
community in Moscow.
"I want you to understand and assess the situation in Armenia
correctly. The political forces that declared long before the election
that they would not accept anyone's victory except their own are now
trying to use political blackmail to destabilize the country," he said.
"No one has the right to destabilize our state system with threats,
terror, or calls for regime change," the president said.
"Serious steps have been made to ease political tensions at home.
All local TV channels invite opposition leaders to various programs,
and all those arrested after the March 1 events - those who were not
directly involved in the unrest, or whose suspected guilt has not
been proven - have been freed," the president said.
After the February 19 presidential elections, the Armenian opposition,
led by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, organized mass rallies to
protest the outcome of the election. The rallies deteriorated into
clashes with police on March 1, in which ten people were killed and
more than 250 injured.
Interfax News Agency
June 24 2008
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he is prepared to talk to the
opposition, although he added that his opponents seek to destabilize
the country, not reach a consensus.
"I have said on many occasions that I am ready, guided by Armenia's
interests, to sit down at a negotiating table and work with any
political force," Sargsyan told representatives of the Armenian ethnic
community in Moscow.
"I want you to understand and assess the situation in Armenia
correctly. The political forces that declared long before the election
that they would not accept anyone's victory except their own are now
trying to use political blackmail to destabilize the country," he said.
"No one has the right to destabilize our state system with threats,
terror, or calls for regime change," the president said.
"Serious steps have been made to ease political tensions at home.
All local TV channels invite opposition leaders to various programs,
and all those arrested after the March 1 events - those who were not
directly involved in the unrest, or whose suspected guilt has not
been proven - have been freed," the president said.
After the February 19 presidential elections, the Armenian opposition,
led by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, organized mass rallies to
protest the outcome of the election. The rallies deteriorated into
clashes with police on March 1, in which ten people were killed and
more than 250 injured.