MOVEMENT CALLS FOR TIME-OUT

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[09:36 pm] 17 October, 2008

The national movement called for a two month time-out. After stating
his decision, Levon Ter-Petrosian called on the authorities to not
get too excited and not perceive that short-term stop as an end to
the movement.

"The short-term end of the rallies and marches doesn’t mean that
the movement is backing down from the political struggle and its
demands, which include the immediate release of political prisoners,
establishment of democracy and legitimacy in the country, as well as
the extraordinary parliamentary and presidential elections. On the
contrary, we are certain that this time-out is going to speed up the
implementation of the abovementioned objectives."

Levon Ter-Petrosian also said that after a couple of months everybody
will be convinced that the decision was fair and substantiated. He
explained the decision for a time-out:

"The opposition may become a tool for foreign powers. On the one
hand, those powers are putting up with the Armenian authorities’
persecutions; while on the other hand, they are trying to serve the
existence of the opposition for their own benefit. We should see this
coming and not fall into the trap. Being in favor of the quick solution
to the Turkish-Armenian relations and the Karabakh peace process,
we are going to step back and let the authorities solve those issues."

Levon Ter-Petrosian also informed that in the upcoming months, the
movement will focus mainly on issues concerning organization and the
formation of Armenian National Congress structures to prepare for
the main caucus, which will become an important event in Armenia’s
politics and create the bases for holding more events. Ter-Petrosian
remarked that the coming months are going to be crucial for the
Karabakh peace process and the fate of the Armenian statehood. "We
are going to follow-up on the development of the events and give our
evaluations on the steps taken by the Armenian authorities."

Levon Ter-Petrosian’s speech was interrupted from time to time with the
calls "Levon, President". At the end of his speech, Levon Ter-Petrosian
ANC leaders led the big march with Levon Ter-Petrosyan in front

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress