Interfax News Agency, Russia
March 28 2008

Armenian opposition may start talks with authorities on principles
proposed by EU

YEREVAN March 28

Armenian political forces supporting former opposition presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian can enter a dialogue with the
authorities on principles suggested by the European Union.

"We reaffirm our commitment to a plan for settling the internal
political situation based on principles set out in the European Union
presidency proposals of March 4. They imply the release of all the
detainees, guarantees of equal information opportunities, and
independent international investigation of the March 1 events, and
only then can dialogue be opened with the authorities,"
Ter-Petrosian’s supporters said in a statement circulated by his
press service in Yerevan on Friday.

The document was signed by members of 20 opposition parties and one
non-governmental organization, which supported Ter-Petrosian in the
February 19, 2008 presidential elections.

Following the presidential elections, in which Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan was officially declared the winner, supporters
Ter-Petrosian, who came in second, started mass protests in Yerevan,
demanding that the official results of the vote be declared invalid.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed a rally in Yerevan, but
Ter-Petrosian’s supporters gathered at another place near the city
hall.

By the evening of March 1, the protests grew into a mass revolt, in
which eight people were killed and more than 170 injured, according
to official reports.

The same day, President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of
emergency in the city.

Investigative authorities opened criminal cases against 106 people,
and four others, including parliamentarian Khachatur Sukiasian, were
declared wanted. People arrested under these cases have been indicted
for fomenting mass disorder, illegally storing or carrying weapons,
attempting to usurp power, and other crimes.