Both are Selling, Both are Buying: Debate about Dialogue Between HAK and Armenia’s Authorities

The first meeting yesterday between the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the ruling coalition was positive in terms of calming the internal atmosphere, but as for how useful it is for the public, it is doubtful, said Azg daily chief editor Hakob Avetikyan, speaking to editors in Yerevan on Tuesday.

“It seems to me, I have the impression of some sort of eastern, Persian bazaar. Both are selling, both are buying, according to me, and in this sense, I don’t know, will they meet each other or will all this serve the authorities as a way to spoil the opposition, and the opposition, saying see, people, we made this move, we even negotiated, but these authorities are the same, consequently, we have to continue the struggle?” he said.

According to Avetikyan, it’s still too early to express preconceived opinions since “they’ve just begun and they’re still feeling each other out, and this situation of touching [discovering one another] is interesting and positive.”

Also present at the press conference, publicist Tigran Paskevichyan said HAK has always called for early elections and member of the working group and ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) MP Davit Harutyunyan yesterday didn’t rule out the possibility of discussing any issue.

“What other change should there be in the country apart from changing the illegimitate authorities who do not enjoy the people’s trust, so that the people are satisfied with this? What should they do, hand out bread to the people, hand out oil, seeds? All these things this government in its distrust has tried — nothing works. A conversation took place, this dialogue was compared with an eastern bazaar, selling, buying, we have been hearing these conversations for months, that HAK wants to get deputy seats or another in parliament, all these are completely absurd. A conversation about early elections has been put forth and if HAK does not achieve early elections through dialogue, it will do so in the fall, by getting the people on its feet. It’s not desirable for me; for many, taking the revolutionary path is desirable,” he said.