Why HAK Did Not Fulfill its Promise at the April 8 Rally

The rally which took place on Apr. 8, contrary to what was announced and expected, didn’t become a unique self-organized public forum, which was to have made and implemented public and joint decisions, reads a statement by a local civic initiative group called a “Gathering of Equals.”

According to the authors of the statement, also not recalled during the rally were the Armenian National Congress’ (HAK) proposals on things to do during the Apr. 8 rally, their discussion or decisions to be made about them, or the means of organizing the form.

“We’re inclined to think that there were serious reasons which forced rally organizers not to address this issue.

“If that is the case, then based on the nature of the Armenian National Congress and, in general, the citizen-wide movement, we’re convinced that it’s necessary to publicly declare those reasons, since only an informed public will be in a position to support the HAK leadership, if necessary, in the issue of eliminating all the factors that obstruct establishing the forum.

“Let’s not stave off repeating that open, transparent cooperation with the public is one of the main pledges in instilling democratic values and establishing constitutional order in Armenia,” reads the statement by the group.