Internal and external forces not interested in authorities-opposition dialogue.
A dialogue between the authorities and Armenian National Congress (ANC) is not to the benefit of some internal and external forces, Armenia’s first president, and leader of the ANC Levon Ter-Petrosyan said at the rally on Friday.
“A dialogue will lead the Armenian authorities out of a vulnerable situation and strengthen our country’s international positions, particularly in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,” he said
The ANC leader also addressed the claims that the National Congress monopolized the opposition camp.
“It is a fact that a political force can monopolize power. But the idea of a political force monopolizing the opposition camp is so brilliant that it can arise only in the Armenian political arena,” Ter-Petrosyan said. “How could the ANC monopolize the opposition camp? Do we have administrative resources, or unlimited financial resources? Do we own electronic media, or enjoy support by external forces? Do we terrorize opponents and imprison them, or do we use neurolinguistics?”
Ter-Petrosyan believes that if, after three years “of severest political persecution,” the Congress managed to succeed, the reason is entirely different. ANC’s intellectual abilities, daily hard work, consistent and persistent struggle, dialogue with the people, self-sacrifice, organization, discipline, and determination allowed that, ANC leader believes.
Ter-Petrosyan also addressed talks about the need to create a third force.
“We must admit that talks about creation of the third force mean that currently there are two forces, namely, the authorities and the ANC,” he mentioned. “Why has not this third force been formed amid the three-year-long talks? Who’s to blame? Of course, it is the ANC, which, according to ones supportive of the idea of a third force, monopolized the opposition camp by leading the people.”
The ANC leader also noted that the supporters of a third force lack activity, as they are concerned over the prospect of a dialogue between the authorities and the ANC, which may result in early elections.
Next rally scheduled for April 28
April 28 will either become a day inaugurating a dialogue or a day of a final rupture of relations between the authorities and society in Armenia, Armenia’s first president stated at the ANC rally. On April 28 the Armenian opposition has scheduled its next rally.
In his speech, the ANC leader outlined the three main demands. Without prior satisfaction of those demands Armenia’s political life remains “poisoned”, and any dialogue with the authorities “is out of the question,” Ter-Petrosyan believes. Armenian opposition demands the release of political prisoners, restoring the people’s constitutional right to hold rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan and investigation of the post-election events on March 1, 2008. If the demands are not satisfied, the ANC will consider any chances of dialogue exhausted and have to drastically change its strategy.
“We are not yet inclined to talks with the authorities in terms of ultimatums, but people’s patience is not infinite,” said Ter-Petrosyan. “April 28 will either inaugurate a dialogue or will become a day of a final rupture of relations between the authorities and society.”
He also dwelt on mechanisms for satisfying the opposition’s demands. Ter-Petrosyan reminded that the president is entitled to pardon prisoners. He cited the example of Cuba, where about 60 prisoners have recently been pardoned.
"It is clear that in this situation the most convenient way to address the issue of political prisoners in Armenia is the application of this simple mechanism in the president’s power, which will obviously have a positive impact on easing the political tension,” Ter-Petrosyan added.
As to the people’s constitutional right to hold rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan, the ANC leader said that in recent years, the Yerevan city hall has repeatedly illegally denied the opposition the right to hold rallies on Liberty Square. Many decisions were appealed, but remained in force. Sooner or later, both the mayors and the judges that made the decisions will be brought to justice, Ter-Petrosyan believes. The ANC leader reminded the participants of the value of Liberty Square as a cradle of Armenian democracy.
“The authorities not only continue cynical violations of law, but, according to backstage talks, intend to include Liberty Square to the list of places where any political events are prohibited,” he said. “And no power, no matter how omnipotent it will be, can deprive the people of this symbol. This is tantamount to prohibiting the British from holding rallies in Trafalgar Square or the French from meeting in the Place de la Bastille and Place de la Concorde.”
Regarding the investigation of the March 1, 2008, events, the ANC leader stressed the importance of setting up an independent international commission or, at least, a fact-finding group involving international experts.
“March 1 is a tragedy that, like the October 27 crime [when terrorists attacked the Armenian parliament], will not be erased from the people’s memory even in a hundred years. Their organizers, even if they avoid criminal responsibility, will never avoid historical responsibility,” Ter-Petrosyan said.
Referring to the previous rally, he recalled the statement that the oppositional ANC will act “within the Constitution and laws, trying to prevent political and social shocks” not because it rejects revolutionary methods of struggle, but “because of the risk of a new war by Azerbaijan.”
“If some people are skeptical, I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will never lose a chance to take advantage of any serious confusion in Armenia,” the ANC leader said.
Around 8500 people is believed to have attended the rally organized by the opposition Armenian National Congress (or HAK), the police said.
In a press release issued hours after the HAK rally near Matenadaran building in downtown Yerevan, the police also said that some of the participants hindered the traffic.
“Despite the urgings by the police officers handling public order, some of the participants of the rally blocked the crossing point of the Mashtots Avenue and Koryun Street, hindering the traffic,” read the statement.
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