DEMAND FOR POPULAR REVOLT

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: A top official of the former ruling
Armenian National Movement (ANM) moved unexpectedly today to
underestimate Armenia’s main opposition parties’ claims that the
situation for a popular revolt against the incumbent regime was nearing
a margin that would imminently spark a wide-scale anti-government
movement.

Babken Ararktsian, a former parliament chairman in ex-president Levon
Ter-Petrosian’s administration argued there were no prerequisites
for a revolution in Armenia. “Chances of the opposition parties to
pattern a ‘colored’ revolution here are very few. They neither enjoy
an outside support to carry it out, since there is no social demand
for revolution in Armenia,” Ararktsian said, but could not explain
why there was no such a demand.

Ararktsian, who is head of Armat think-tank, went on to argue that
Armenia is not attractive for influential outside forces, due to its
geographic location and geopolitical significance, unlike two other
former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine.

Ararktsian also argued against press reports in the opposition media
that the ruling coalition is divided. Speaking about the opposition’s
performance he said its sole opportunity to ‘showcase itself” is to
boycott the parliament’s work. He also spoke about Turkish-Armenian
relations emphasizing the opening of borders, saying it would benefit
Armenia economically