KARABAKH WAR HEROES AGAINST CUSTOMS UNION (VIDEOS)
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/05/freedom-fighters/
22:07 05.09.13
Several heroes of the Nagorno-Karabakh war rallied Thursday evening
in Yerevan's Liberty Square, protesting against Armenia's decision
to join the Russian-led Customs Union.
Suren Sargsyan, who led the public gathering, said the president's
Wednesday statement was evidently made under the threat of pressure.
"Serzh Sargsyan was sitting next to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin,
looking as though he had just been beaten by a club. And Putin was
angrily and contemptuously looking at the Armenian president as if
he had realized Sargsyan was trying to apply double standards. He
seemed to be saying to him, 'Speak out, now'. It's quite possible
for Europe and the Americas to treat us likewise tomorrow," he said.
The activist stressed the importance of having a legitimate country
leader, noting in the meantime that the incumbent president won his
second term through vote-buying. "Regardless of whether or not the
president's decision is in Armenia's interests, I declare that the
Armenian people do not need a president like Serzh Sargsyan," the
war veteran added.
Yervand Manaryan, a merited Armenian actor who had joined the rally,
also criticized the Customs Union move, considering it a major disgrace
for Armenia. "The only thing left now is to be able to straighten
our back. This is what I think; I am not one of those who bend down
all the time," he said.
President of the Yerevan Writers' Union Abgar Apinyan later delivered
a speech, expressing support to the protesting crowd. "By joining
the home-guard, we will try to attain results every week to reach a
victory," he said.
A former member of the Karabakh committee, Ashot Manucharyan, also
shared the opinions voiced, pointing out to Russia's double standards.
"We have seen two kinds of Russia. Russia can be an ally, but it can
also be a rival; all depends on Armenia's posture," the activist noted.
He proposed one way of bridging the existing gaps. "That's when the
people gather here to join efforts," he said.
A deputy leader of the opposition Heritage party, Armen Martirosyan,
also addressed the topic, criticizing the political decision.
"After all this, [Heritage party leader] Raffi Hovhannisian could not
but demand Serzh Sargsyan's resignation. This is an impermissible
situation for us. Such unions bring harm rather than offer any
assistance," he said in his speech.
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/05/freedom-fighters/
22:07 05.09.13
Several heroes of the Nagorno-Karabakh war rallied Thursday evening
in Yerevan's Liberty Square, protesting against Armenia's decision
to join the Russian-led Customs Union.
Suren Sargsyan, who led the public gathering, said the president's
Wednesday statement was evidently made under the threat of pressure.
"Serzh Sargsyan was sitting next to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin,
looking as though he had just been beaten by a club. And Putin was
angrily and contemptuously looking at the Armenian president as if
he had realized Sargsyan was trying to apply double standards. He
seemed to be saying to him, 'Speak out, now'. It's quite possible
for Europe and the Americas to treat us likewise tomorrow," he said.
The activist stressed the importance of having a legitimate country
leader, noting in the meantime that the incumbent president won his
second term through vote-buying. "Regardless of whether or not the
president's decision is in Armenia's interests, I declare that the
Armenian people do not need a president like Serzh Sargsyan," the
war veteran added.
Yervand Manaryan, a merited Armenian actor who had joined the rally,
also criticized the Customs Union move, considering it a major disgrace
for Armenia. "The only thing left now is to be able to straighten
our back. This is what I think; I am not one of those who bend down
all the time," he said.
President of the Yerevan Writers' Union Abgar Apinyan later delivered
a speech, expressing support to the protesting crowd. "By joining
the home-guard, we will try to attain results every week to reach a
victory," he said.
A former member of the Karabakh committee, Ashot Manucharyan, also
shared the opinions voiced, pointing out to Russia's double standards.
"We have seen two kinds of Russia. Russia can be an ally, but it can
also be a rival; all depends on Armenia's posture," the activist noted.
He proposed one way of bridging the existing gaps. "That's when the
people gather here to join efforts," he said.
A deputy leader of the opposition Heritage party, Armen Martirosyan,
also addressed the topic, criticizing the political decision.
"After all this, [Heritage party leader] Raffi Hovhannisian could not
but demand Serzh Sargsyan's resignation. This is an impermissible
situation for us. Such unions bring harm rather than offer any
assistance," he said in his speech.
From: Baghdasarian