Armenian opposition ready for dialogue with authorities

Arminfo
5 May 04

YEREVAN

The opposition Justice bloc and the National Unity Party are ready to
start dialogue with the Armenian authorities, in particular, with
President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, the
Justice bloc and the National Unity Party said in a statement
forwarded to Arminfo news agency today.

The statement said the opposition took this decision because of the
deepening political crisis in the country after the presidential
elections in 2003 and because it realizes its responsibility for
leading the country towards democracy without any excesses. The
resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) about the political situation in Armenia was instrumental in
making the opposition take this decision.

The statement also noted that the opposition intends to accept the
speaker of parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan’s proposal to continue the
political consultations which will be resumed on 6 May. The Justice
bloc and the National Unity Party promised to abstain from organizing
rallies in the Armenian capital during the next 10 days. But, the
opposition will resume its protest actions in the country unless an
agreement is reached with the authorities, the statement said.