Why is Dialogue Acceptable but Negotiations Unacceptable? Asks Zurabyan

Why do the authorities say negotiations are unacceptable but a dialogue is acceptable? asked Armenian National Congress (HAK) senior representative Levon Zurabyan at a press conference in Yerevan today.

“Negotiations is a process aimed at acquiring agreements. By avoiding negotiations, the authorities show that they don’t want to get involved in a process which will result in agreements. They want, as they say, to dialogue; they want to organize an exchange of ideas — an [insignificant] chat, if you like. We don’t have time for a chat. We are interested in results and systemic changes,” he said.

According to him, a situation has been created today where it’s obvious that on one hand, there’s an understanding on the part of the authorities; on the other hand, the authorities have thus far avoided the willingness to give full meaning to that dialogue.

“That is to say, we have to reach a situation that will be effective. We have noted that the only way is the meeting of delegations,” said Zurabyan.