Armenian opposition leader says ready for dialogue with president

Arminfo
21 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The leader of the National Unity Party and MP of the National
Assembly, Artashes Gegamyan, said today that he is ready for dialogue
with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, but only in the presence of
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II in the Holy See of Echmiadzin.

Speaking at a rally organized by the united opposition, he talked
about a meeting he had with Garegin II. The latter expressed his
concern about the domestic political situation and called for
dialogue. “I am ready for a dialogue with Kocharyan, but let him talk
in the presence of Garegin II about his orders to beat up his own
people and his other sins,” Gegamyan said.

Gegamyan said he was outraged by yesterday’s [20 April] speech of
Kocharyan. “How dare he to insult the great poetess Silva Kaputikyan
[for turning down the Order of Mesrop Mashtots awarded on her 80th
anniversary]. He said that we are fighting for
leadership. Intellectuals, like Silva Kaputikyan, are our leaders. Our
leaders are the people,” Gegamyan said.

[Passage omitted: Minor details]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress