Armenian opposition holds consultations with ruling coalition

Interfax news agency, Moscow
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

A dialogue between the Armenian opposition and the coalition of three
pro-government parties began in the Armenian parliament on Monday [26
April].

The meeting was held at the initiative of parliament Speaker Artur
Bagdasaryan, Interfax was told.

Among the parties taking part in the consultations are the opposition
Justice faction and the heads of the parliamentary factions of three
pro-government parties (the Republican Party of Armenia, Orinats
Yerkir [Law-Governed Country Party] and Dashnaktsutyun).

Viktor Dallakyan, a representative of the Justice faction, told
reporters before the meeting: “The opposition has provided the
coalition with a package of demands which include halting political
persecution and violence against opposition activists, releasing all
opposition activists who are currently in prison, suspending the
criminal case against the opposition Justice bloc, ensuring the
security of peaceful rally participants, and providing live air time
on Armenian Public TV to opposition leaders.”

The opposition is also demanding that “all those who were involved in
the rigging of the presidential and parliamentary elections held in
Armenia in 2003 and those involved in the dispersion of the rally held
in front of the Armenian parliament on 13 April [2004]” be punished,
Dallakyan said. In addition, they are demanding that the parliament
adopt the opposition’s initiative to hold a referendum on confidence
in the republic’s authorities, he said.

Dallakyan believes that if these demands are fulfilled, the tension
will be defused in Armenia. The opposition will not object if its
demands are fulfilled step by step, he stressed.

[Passage omitted: reported details]