OPPOSITION MEETING STARTS WITH INCIDENT

Noyan Tapan

Se p 15, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The first sanctioned all-republican
meeting of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) on September 15 started
with an incident. A group of policemen beat several young men and girls
of "Hima" youth initiative, complaining that these young people were
chanting "Serzhik, Go Away". Then, a few minutes before the start of
the meeting policemen approached the first Armenian president Levon
Ter-Petrosian and warned him that no march was to be held after the
meeting, otherwise "further responsibility will be on the meeting
organizers".

The member of "Republic" party’s political board Suren Sureniants
who conducted the meeting stated that the authorities permitted the
meeting thanks to the struggle and will-power of the people.

The first speech was made by the member of "Union of Armenian
Volunteers" initiative Samvel Harutyunian who declared that the
initiative has taken a decision to joint the ANC. In his words, having
re-interpreted the past, L. Ter-Petrosian has gained the right to be
president again.

The head of the National Assembly "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosian
in his turn spoke about the law on television that the National
Assembly passed recently. He expressed confidence that any politician
with a state thinking "would have opened A1+ and Noyan Tapan television
channels beforehand because this is the only way to get the country
out of the current shameful situation".

The chairman of "New Times" party Aram Karapetain said that no one
doubts the people’s victory. He thanked for the incessant struggle,
saying that the spirit of that struggle reaches the political prisoners
and inspires them.