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POLITICAL SEASON OVER?: ARMENIAN OPPOSITION REGROUPING AFTER "HOT" POLITICAL AUTUMN
POLITICS | 09.12.14 | 12:12
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The opposition had promised a heated political autumn, but what
happened during the season, including two big joint rallies of the
three opposition parties, according to observers, did not result in
any significant changes, at least such that would be visible to the
public at large.
The parties - the Armenian National Congress (ANC), Prosperous Armenia
(PAP) and Heritage, known as Troika - appeared to have a common agenda
initially, but recently some differences emerged among the parties.
Still, Troika representatives insist that "the popular movement"
is in its normal course.
Leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian held a so-called civic
assembly in Yerevan's Liberty Square on Friday after which he traveled
to Vanadzor and Gyumri the next day for similar gatherings. Talking
to reporters he again called for a common agenda.
Unlike the other three members of the Troika format, Heritage initially
stated that it is against Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) and during the civic assemblies this issue was high on
the agenda as speakers condemned those who voted in the Armenian
parliament for joining the Russian-led economic grouping.
At a press conference on Monday Heritage's deputy head Armen
Martirosyan said that despite this the party is not going to leave
the Troika format.
"We have no such problem, we are in favor of cooperation and our only
goal is to have a common agenda and act together," he said, stressing
that the latest gatherings of Heritage were aimed at consolidating
the movement rather than splitting it.
"I hope that soon we will have a common stance and a roadmap,"
Martirosyan added.
Meanwhile, PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan on Monday visited Armenia's
second largest city of Gyumri where he granted 45 million drams
(about $100,000) to citizens who live in difficult social conditions.
Tsarukyan also visited the headquarters of the popular movement in
Gyumri. There he listened to people and promised to help.
Tsarukyan, who is in-laws with Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, said
he did not hear how on December 4 the latter said to reporters that
"in my opinion Tsarukyan is not after a change of power."
"He did not say such a thing, don't mislead me. What Hovik Abrahamyan
said is that, yes, he is my friend, but I cannot reply instead of
him," said the PAP leader, adding that the popular movement is in
its normal course and nothing has changed. "If there is a problem,
I will give a short and concrete answer. I have said time and again
that Gagik Tsarukyan always keeps his word," he emphasized.
According to head of the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies Manvel Sargsyan, the autumn activity in the opposition
camp appears to have faded away, while the questions raised by the
opposition have not yet got answers.
"The fact is that this union has no coherence, though it is said
that some work is being done, but it is not seen either, even in
the National Assembly they do not show a common position," the
analyst said.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/59167/armenia_opposition_government_troika
POLITICS | 09.12.14 | 12:12
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The opposition had promised a heated political autumn, but what
happened during the season, including two big joint rallies of the
three opposition parties, according to observers, did not result in
any significant changes, at least such that would be visible to the
public at large.
The parties - the Armenian National Congress (ANC), Prosperous Armenia
(PAP) and Heritage, known as Troika - appeared to have a common agenda
initially, but recently some differences emerged among the parties.
Still, Troika representatives insist that "the popular movement"
is in its normal course.
Leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian held a so-called civic
assembly in Yerevan's Liberty Square on Friday after which he traveled
to Vanadzor and Gyumri the next day for similar gatherings. Talking
to reporters he again called for a common agenda.
Unlike the other three members of the Troika format, Heritage initially
stated that it is against Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) and during the civic assemblies this issue was high on
the agenda as speakers condemned those who voted in the Armenian
parliament for joining the Russian-led economic grouping.
At a press conference on Monday Heritage's deputy head Armen
Martirosyan said that despite this the party is not going to leave
the Troika format.
"We have no such problem, we are in favor of cooperation and our only
goal is to have a common agenda and act together," he said, stressing
that the latest gatherings of Heritage were aimed at consolidating
the movement rather than splitting it.
"I hope that soon we will have a common stance and a roadmap,"
Martirosyan added.
Meanwhile, PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan on Monday visited Armenia's
second largest city of Gyumri where he granted 45 million drams
(about $100,000) to citizens who live in difficult social conditions.
Tsarukyan also visited the headquarters of the popular movement in
Gyumri. There he listened to people and promised to help.
Tsarukyan, who is in-laws with Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, said
he did not hear how on December 4 the latter said to reporters that
"in my opinion Tsarukyan is not after a change of power."
"He did not say such a thing, don't mislead me. What Hovik Abrahamyan
said is that, yes, he is my friend, but I cannot reply instead of
him," said the PAP leader, adding that the popular movement is in
its normal course and nothing has changed. "If there is a problem,
I will give a short and concrete answer. I have said time and again
that Gagik Tsarukyan always keeps his word," he emphasized.
According to head of the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies Manvel Sargsyan, the autumn activity in the opposition
camp appears to have faded away, while the questions raised by the
opposition have not yet got answers.
"The fact is that this union has no coherence, though it is said
that some work is being done, but it is not seen either, even in
the National Assembly they do not show a common position," the
analyst said.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/59167/armenia_opposition_government_troika