WETHER OR NOT THERE IS POLITICAL CRISIS IN AREMNIA
GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on March 15, 2008

Artashes Geghamyan

Leader of `National Unity’

`Even if the Republic of Armenia is facing a political crisis, it has
got a geopolitical shading and implication. The thing is, the far-flung
geopolitical plans, aimed at realizing not only in Armenia but also in
the South Caucasus, in case Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected as a
President on February 19, 2008, presidential elections are ruined.

The fact of the failure became evident, when it was revealed that Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s participation in the Presidential elections pursued a
sole objective of destabilizing the situation in the country at any
price. Thus establishing a fertile soil for different international
organizations and the powers backing them to interfere in our country’s
internal political affairs. The final result of the actions was
Armenia’s detachment from its age-long friend ` Russia and the
establishment of Turkey’s hegemonic role in the region. This is the
reason of the provocation of illegal demonstrations and mass disorder,
in the post-election period. And the same powers are trying to
represent the situation established by themselves as a political
crisis.

Whereas the statement about a political crisis in Armenia is out of the
question. Yes, there is crisis in the Republic of Armenia, but it is a
crisis of trust, that has been introduced for many years by the press
belonging to Armenian Pan National Movement. They have set a task to
sew skepticism in our society towards the pro-oppositional powers, in
which the government in power also has its role; this is the reason why
the opposition domain is deserted at the moment. In parallel to all
this they were also trying to sew skepticism towards the authorities.

As I already mentioned, unfortunately the authorities also contributed
to the formation of this mentality among the society, with its policy
unpleasant for the people. At the moment we have to overcome the crisis
of trust. Each of us must admit his/her fault and repent. In this
regard I think the proposal made by the newly elected President was the
best step forward. And it must serve as an example for many people.

We must be vigilant. The Republic of Armenia is facing the most
critical period of its new history, when the well-known powers are
doing their best to lead the people to very dangerous temptations.

But we will never let this happen. Armenia is an independent, legal
state and we must maintain this Constitutional Clause as the apple of
our eye.

We must be able to prevent the interference of any international
organization in our internal political life. Moreover we must have
courage to say publicly that it is the double standard policy of these
countries that gives rise to the astonishment of the civilized world.

Vardan Khachatryan

Political Secretary of `Heritage’ Party

There has been and there is political crisis in our country. We
shouldn’t try to convince ourselves that we have overcome the tension,
because still there is a lack of social solidarity.

Today all the developments take place in the condition of the state of
emergency. In my opinion the race is still on, by the both sides, and
the Mass Media continue their campaign. Whereas in our opinion, these
days the Mass Media must try to annihilate the tension. We haven’t
overcome the crisis because no one has done anything for it.

It is possible to overcome the crisis by means of a dialogue. For us it
is intolerable to create tension in the political domain and to see a
confrontation between the people and state punishing structure. We must
take certain steps to prevent these phenomena. If a political figure
has committed a crime he must be punished as any citizen of the
Republic of Armenia. If not, collision is unavoidable in the society.

Today a dialogue is indispensable, which should be based on pan
national interests. The negotiating parties must be on the same plane;
no matter they obtained 21, 52 or 65% votes.