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WIKILEAKS: U.S. AMBASSADOR REPORTED DECREASING NUMBER OF ANC SUPPORTERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
August 25, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks has published a series of classified
cables, including one from the former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Ms.
Marie Yovanovitch.
"Under the shadow of a heavy police presence, the opposition led by
ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) held its second rally of the
year on May 1. LTP accused President Sargsyan of being willing to
pay any price - even denial of the genocide - to remain in power,
as evidenced by his support for the April 22 joint statement with
Turkey regarding normalization of relations. The rally came on the
eve of the May 2 kick-off of the campaign for Yerevan's first-ever
municipal election on May 31. Despite opposition claims that tens
of thousands attended the event, Emboffs assessed the crowd size at
six-to-eight thousand," the ambassador wrote.
"The opposition complained that their numbers were reduced by
roadblocks that the police erected in Armenia's regions to stop people
traveling to Yerevan for the rally. Numerous media outlets reported
on May 2 that most roads leading into Yerevan had been blocked and
public transportation halted only to resume at 5 pm, after the rally
had finished. However, the Chief of Police denied this to Ambassador."
"LTP charged that President Sargsyan's support of rapprochement "at
any cost, including renunciation of the Genocide," was given in order
"to solve the problem of his legitimacy" and "keep his hold on power."
According to LTP, Sargsyan's next step will be to "sell out
Nagorno-Karabakh," she continued.
"LTP then also blamed the Diaspora and former President Kocharian for
setting up Sargsyan to fail on the issue, arguing that they together
had made genocide recognition a centerpiece of Armenian foreign policy
issue over the past decade."
The ambassador went on to say that "In contrast with the large
turnouts at LTP's campaign and protest rallies in 2008, the May 1
event paled in comparison. Although the road blocks likely prevented
regional supporters from attending the rally, LTP's traditional base
of support has always been in Yerevan - where people were free to come
and go on May 1, and where warm weather and a holiday made conditions
ideal for a large turnout. Although one can never rule out the wily
ex-president, slackening attendance at his rallies suggests that his
supporters might be losing faith in his chances to win an election
in the current political climate.
From: Baghdasarian
PanARMENIAN.Net
August 25, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks has published a series of classified
cables, including one from the former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Ms.
Marie Yovanovitch.
"Under the shadow of a heavy police presence, the opposition led by
ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) held its second rally of the
year on May 1. LTP accused President Sargsyan of being willing to
pay any price - even denial of the genocide - to remain in power,
as evidenced by his support for the April 22 joint statement with
Turkey regarding normalization of relations. The rally came on the
eve of the May 2 kick-off of the campaign for Yerevan's first-ever
municipal election on May 31. Despite opposition claims that tens
of thousands attended the event, Emboffs assessed the crowd size at
six-to-eight thousand," the ambassador wrote.
"The opposition complained that their numbers were reduced by
roadblocks that the police erected in Armenia's regions to stop people
traveling to Yerevan for the rally. Numerous media outlets reported
on May 2 that most roads leading into Yerevan had been blocked and
public transportation halted only to resume at 5 pm, after the rally
had finished. However, the Chief of Police denied this to Ambassador."
"LTP charged that President Sargsyan's support of rapprochement "at
any cost, including renunciation of the Genocide," was given in order
"to solve the problem of his legitimacy" and "keep his hold on power."
According to LTP, Sargsyan's next step will be to "sell out
Nagorno-Karabakh," she continued.
"LTP then also blamed the Diaspora and former President Kocharian for
setting up Sargsyan to fail on the issue, arguing that they together
had made genocide recognition a centerpiece of Armenian foreign policy
issue over the past decade."
The ambassador went on to say that "In contrast with the large
turnouts at LTP's campaign and protest rallies in 2008, the May 1
event paled in comparison. Although the road blocks likely prevented
regional supporters from attending the rally, LTP's traditional base
of support has always been in Yerevan - where people were free to come
and go on May 1, and where warm weather and a holiday made conditions
ideal for a large turnout. Although one can never rule out the wily
ex-president, slackening attendance at his rallies suggests that his
supporters might be losing faith in his chances to win an election
in the current political climate.
From: Baghdasarian