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Armenia’s Opposition Wants a Regime Change, Not a Revolution

It’s democracy that has to save Karabakh and Armenia, said Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) party leader Aram Manukyan, commenting on Armenian National Congress (HAK) coordinator Levon Zurabyan’s interview with local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”).

Recall, Zurabyan, responding to a journalist’s question, had said that decisions should be made carefully because of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue; however, the interviewer pointed out that at the last HAK rally, the opposition had said, “In the name of Karabakh, we must Egyptize, Tunisianize.” Zurabyan explained: “What we’re saying is that people have to stand up. We’re sure that the solution to the problem lies in this. This gives the opportunity for an insurgent people’s protest to be conducted in a very organized manner, so that a velvet revolution takes place in Armenia.”

In this regard, Manukyan noted, due to Armenia’s democracy, “the world supported our actions in the process of liberating Karabakh.”

“During the war, not a single country, not even Muslim, not even radical, not even hostile, would’ve said that Armenia was the aggressor, that Armenia is occupying another country’s territory,” he said.

According to him, as a result of Armenia’s undemocratic practices, there’s no country or organization left in the world which doesn’t say Armenia should withdraw from Karabakh’s territory.

“Armenia will develop, will resolve its international obligations, will become a reliable partner in the region — if it is democratic,” he said.

He considers the Americans’ and Europeans’ method with which they tried to resolve the region’s problems to have failed.

“A legitimate government more easily integrates and resolves issues in the region than a vulnerable government. Change your method,” the oppositionist said, directing his words to the US and the European Union.

Manukyan stressed the opposition wants a regime change and not a revolution, because “power achieved through a coup is again vulnerable.”