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PRESS REVIEW
RFE/RL
28.04.2009
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation's decision to leave the
government is the central theme of Tuesday's Armenian press commentary.
"Dashnaktsutyun's disaffection is not unfounded," writes "Aravot." "By
staying on in the ruling coalition after the latest developments,
that political force would lose its last remaining sincere supporters
while retaining opportunists trying to be close to the [government]
trough." The paper believes that Dashnaktsutyun simply could not
be part of "a government whose actions raise concerns even in
non-nationalist circles." It says the next few months will show
whether those skeptics who think that Dashnaktsutyun continues to
cooperate with Serzh Sarkisian are right. It says the authorities
will prove them wrong if they soon crack down on Dashnaktsutyun-linked
businessmen or the Yerkir-Media TV station controlled by the party.
According to "Hraparak," Dashnaktsutyun's exit "created a new political
situation in the country." "And that can not be linked with the
elections of Yerevan mayor," says the paper. "It is unlikely that the
last-minute opposition Dashnaktsutyun will fare well in the upcoming
elections." Nonetheless, it says, some of the factions remaining
loyal to President Sarkisian are now "in panic." "The authorities
have no right to weak en themselves as that could lead to a loss
of power." Other government factions are "jubilant," setting their
sights on the government posts made vacant by the Dashnaks.
"Dashnaktsutyun was ready to work together with Serzh Sarkisian as long
as it was certain that his intention is to deceive the outside world,"
writes "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun." That is why, claims the opposition
paper, Dashnaktsutyun leaders did not take Sarkisian's statements on
Turkey seriously until recently. When it turned out that Sarkisian
has no choice but to take concrete steps they decided to jump ship,
according to "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun."
Vahan Hovannisian, one of the Dashnaktsutyun leaders, tells "Iravunk
de facto" that his party will now act like a genuine opposition force.
"I am skeptical about the concept of constructive opposition," says
Hovannisian. "Everyone -- citizens, the authorities, the opposition --
in the country must be constructive," he adds. "That is everyone's
civic duty. In that sense, yes. As for extremism, true, we did have
extreme opposition manifestations in the 1990s because the situation
was extremely severe at that time. I think there is no need for that
now. Besides, there is no lack of extremists in the country today."
Hovannisian also makes clear that Dashnaktsutyun does not intend to
cooperate with former President Le von Ter-Petrosian and his Armenian
National Congress (HAK) for the moment.
"But political developments will show," he says. "If they take
constructive positions and adopt our approaches, then why not? It
will be possible to think about that. But we haven't thought about
that yet."
RFE/RL
28.04.2009
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation's decision to leave the
government is the central theme of Tuesday's Armenian press commentary.
"Dashnaktsutyun's disaffection is not unfounded," writes "Aravot." "By
staying on in the ruling coalition after the latest developments,
that political force would lose its last remaining sincere supporters
while retaining opportunists trying to be close to the [government]
trough." The paper believes that Dashnaktsutyun simply could not
be part of "a government whose actions raise concerns even in
non-nationalist circles." It says the next few months will show
whether those skeptics who think that Dashnaktsutyun continues to
cooperate with Serzh Sarkisian are right. It says the authorities
will prove them wrong if they soon crack down on Dashnaktsutyun-linked
businessmen or the Yerkir-Media TV station controlled by the party.
According to "Hraparak," Dashnaktsutyun's exit "created a new political
situation in the country." "And that can not be linked with the
elections of Yerevan mayor," says the paper. "It is unlikely that the
last-minute opposition Dashnaktsutyun will fare well in the upcoming
elections." Nonetheless, it says, some of the factions remaining
loyal to President Sarkisian are now "in panic." "The authorities
have no right to weak en themselves as that could lead to a loss
of power." Other government factions are "jubilant," setting their
sights on the government posts made vacant by the Dashnaks.
"Dashnaktsutyun was ready to work together with Serzh Sarkisian as long
as it was certain that his intention is to deceive the outside world,"
writes "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun." That is why, claims the opposition
paper, Dashnaktsutyun leaders did not take Sarkisian's statements on
Turkey seriously until recently. When it turned out that Sarkisian
has no choice but to take concrete steps they decided to jump ship,
according to "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun."
Vahan Hovannisian, one of the Dashnaktsutyun leaders, tells "Iravunk
de facto" that his party will now act like a genuine opposition force.
"I am skeptical about the concept of constructive opposition," says
Hovannisian. "Everyone -- citizens, the authorities, the opposition --
in the country must be constructive," he adds. "That is everyone's
civic duty. In that sense, yes. As for extremism, true, we did have
extreme opposition manifestations in the 1990s because the situation
was extremely severe at that time. I think there is no need for that
now. Besides, there is no lack of extremists in the country today."
Hovannisian also makes clear that Dashnaktsutyun does not intend to
cooperate with former President Le von Ter-Petrosian and his Armenian
National Congress (HAK) for the moment.
"But political developments will show," he says. "If they take
constructive positions and adopt our approaches, then why not? It
will be possible to think about that. But we haven't thought about
that yet."