ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TRY TO SETTLE POLITICAL CRISIS

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 11 2004

YEREVAN, May 11 (RIA Novosti) – On the initiative of the chairman of
the National Assembly of Armenia (parliament), Artur Bagdasaryan,
on Monday evening another round of political consultations between
the leaders and representatives of the parliamentary factions and
deputies’ groups will be held to settle the tense internal political
situation in the country.

The parliament’s public relations department told RIA Novosti on
Tuesday that after the consultations, Artur Bagdasaryan, the speaker
of parliament, said that the first positive results had been achieved:
the sides had come to an agreement on the beginning of a political
dialogue. In connection with this, on May 13, representatives of the
parliamentary forces will form an appropriate agenda for the coming
negotiations.

The speaker said that he hoped, “the forces represented in the
parliament will do everything possible to create a new political
situation and that through a political dialogue will be able to solve
the complicated problems.”

Representatives of six factions took part in the consultations: the
Republican Party, the Orinats Erkir Party, the Dashnaktsutyun Party,
the Justice Bloc, the National Unity Party, the Labor Party and the
People’s Deputy parliamentary faction.

The opposition factions of the Justice Bloc and the National Unity
Party have been boycotting the plenary sessions of the Armenian
National Assembly since February 3, and demanding that amendments and
additions to the law “On Referendum,” be included on the agenda. On
the basis of the amendments, the opposition intends to hold a vote
of confidence on President Robert Kocharyan.

Protests demanding the president’s resignation that were organized
by the opposition but not sanctioned by the authorities have been
going on in Yerevan since April 9.

However, many analysts, including Armenian analysts, are afraid that
the situation may complicate Armenian-Azerbaijan relations and result
in Azerbaijan changing its position on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement.

“The opposition has incorrectly created problems. Its aim is to
change power in the country in any way and, if necessary, even by
force,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. He advised
the opposition raise legal demands, social demands for example.

According to him, by shaking the central government, the opposition
could provoke Baku to resolute actions in Nagorny Karabakh.

Political scientists have not ruled out that that Azerbaijan could use
the political crisis in Armenia to attempt to regain Nagorno-Karabakh,
a self-proclaimed republic that was once populated primarily by
Azerbaijanis and now the majority of the population is Armenian.

Incidentally, Mr. Kocharyan is from Nagorny Karabakh, and was the
president of the unrecognized republic.