Armenian National Congress Reps Sum Up Meeting with Ruling Coalition Parties

Ahead of the Council of Europe co-rapporteurs’ visit, the Armenian authorities need to display such a stance and imitate dialogue, but the Armenian National Congress (HAK) needs concrete results, said HAK delegation member Davit Shahnazaryan, speaking to reporters after the approximately two-hour meeting in Erebuni Hotel today between representatives of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and ruling coalition parties.

“We don’t rule out the possibility that the authorities will buy time in these negotiations, but we need a concrete outcome, which will be to come out of the crisis through early elections. I know that this will happen. Through this format or through another way, through pressure by the people,” he said.

“I would prefer that it happen through dialogue and negotiations. We have to show the authorities an imitation of dialogue, but we have clearly said that all issues have to be resolved by September,” added the HAK representative.

According to Levon Zurabyan, who is leading the HAK delegation, there was no discussion today about establishing the agenda.

“In effect is the notion which we also share that around the negotiation table must be brought those solutions which every party is imagining. That is, we have our solution, which is early presidential and parliamentary elections. That is the solution that we’re bringing to the negotiating table, but we have also agreed that there is equality. So they too can bring their solutions,” he said.

The authorities, according to Zurabyan, have put no solution up for discussion on the negotiation table. As for developing the dialogue, Zurabyan said this is not the format in which effective dialogue can take place.

“However, there were statements made by their delegation through which new circumstances were revealed; that is, in reality, they have much broader powers and we are waiting for clear statements about these powers. Because our decisions can’t be guided by their statements during this meeting, until these statements don’t become public property,” he concluded.

Note, HAK representatives have proposed that subsequent meetings are streamed live or, if this is not done, then not allowing journalists in the room so that misinformation is not delivered to the public through television.