Epress.am News from Armenia
The Armenian National Congress will not force its agenda during dialogue with the authorities, said Republic party member Suren Abrahamyan, during a joint press conference with Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) representative Artak Davtyan in Yerevan today. Note, the Republic party is one of several parties that make up the opposition bloc the Armenian National Congress (HAK).
“A historic mission has been put to me and Mr. Davtyan: this is the first attempt at dialogue following the [HAK] rally; we’re building the foundation for dialogue. We’ve put forth not an issue of us replacing the current authorities but the issue of establishing a normal, legitimate government in Armenia,” said Abrahamyan.
Davtyan, in turn, began his remarks by referencing the Bible: “A house that doesn’t have unity cannot stay standing. The steps by the first president of Armenia and the authorities’ steps fit within these words from the Bible. Whether it’s the opposition or the authorities, the goals are known — there has to be difference in the means used to reach these goals,” he said.
According to Abrahamyan, during dialogue, the authorities can put forward other options from HAK’s agenda, which is pre-term presidential or parliamentary elections, in order to get the country out if its current state.
“We aren’t going to force our agenda; what’s complex is sitting across from each other, then the issues will be discussed,” he said.
Both parties stressed that there are internal and external circumstances that are interfering for the country to reach stability.
Asked by Epress.am, who are those that are interfering with this process and what role can second president of Armenia Robert Kocharian have in the dialogue between the opposition and the authorities, Abrahamyan responded, “Kocharian’s role is obvious — he is simply terrified.”
Davtyan, however, as a comeback, advised his colleague to review first president of Armenia and HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrossian’s speech made at the last rally.