Armenian opposition holds another rally, vows to continue protests

Aravot, Yerevan
2 Jun 07

The following is an excerpt from Naira Mamikonyan’s report in Armenian
newspaper Aravot published on 2 June and headlined "The opposition’s struggle is
humanitarian, Impeachment bloc representative Norayr Norikyan said at a rally
yesterday"
The Impeachment bloc, the New Times and Republic parties staged a rally
yesterday [1 June] near Matenadaran [an institute and museum of manuscripts in
Yerevan], as the Liberty Square was occupied by children, who were marking their
day.
Only 1,000-1,500 people came to listen to the opposition, but speakers said
that they did not care how many people participated in rallies. "We will hold
rallies even if 10, fifty or a hundred people attend, as this is an absolute
necessity," said Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Republic Party, and Norayr
Norikyan of the Impeachment bloc.
Commenting on allegations by the authorities that the opposition fails to
unite, Norikyan said that the same was happening in the "united" camp of the
authorities.
[Passage omitted: Norikyan says many members of pro-government parties move
from one party to another and adhere to no ideological or political
principles.]
Speaking about a shoot-out and the disappearance of a 12-year-old boy in [the
second town of] Gyumri after the [12 May parliamentary] election, as well as
on the death of Levon Gulyan at a police station, Norikyan said: "If there
were legal authorities in Armenia, the Security Council would have met and an
extraordinary session of the National Assembly [parliament] would have been
held immediately after those events in order to give an explanation to public
before trials. But as we don’t have a legal government in Armenia,
[President] Robert Kocharyan and [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan continue to establish
a feudal system in Armenia."
Norikyan called on the Armenian public not to get disappointed. "Trust
yourself and your strength, and the beautiful future of Armenia. Remember that our
struggle is humanitarian in the first place and we are responsible for the
future. Our slogan of 1+1+ will lead us to victory."
[Passage omitted: Democratic Motherland party leader Petros Makeyan said
about 400,000 votes were rigged in the past two elections.]
Speaking about the need for appealing to the Constitution Court, Aram
Sargsyan, the leader of the Republic party, said that the opposition had many facts
proving that the election results were falsified.
[Passage omitted: Sargsyan said the opposition should unite ahead of the 2008
presidential election.]
New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan said that the most serious political
developments had always happened during presidential elections. He expressed
the hope that the people would stand firm during the presidential election and
say good-bye to the incumbent authorities.
[Passage omitted: Karapetyan says no real changes will happen Armenia as long
as the current government remains in office]
Participants in the rally applauded the Impeachment bloc representative,
Nikol Pahinyan, who turned 32 yesterday. He spent his birthday in the
Constitutional Court and the rally.
Asked when the rallies are going to end, Vigen Khachatryan said: "They will
end when we will make sure that a government is formed by people in Armenia."