RAFIK PETROSIAN WELCOMES OPPOSITION’S DECISION TO TEMPORARILY STOP RALLIES

Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. As member of the RA NA RPA faction
Rafik Petrosian classed it, today two super-mighty states, Russia
and the United States try to protect their interests in the South
Caucasus, in particular, in Armenia. However, as the deputy stated at
the October 23 press conference, Armenia will not be able to carry on
such policy so as it can "float between them" and its own interests
not be violated in the country.

In that respect R. Petrosian welcomes the decision of the opposition,
in particular, of first RA President Levon Ter-Petrosian to temporarily
stop holding rallies. Nevertheless he does not think that the
opposition has taken that "time-out" due to being concerned with
Armenia’s interests.

According to him, the opposition has made such a decision seeing that
struggle through rallies gives no result.

Touching upon the publications in press that allegedly RA President
Serzh Sargsyan "sells Karabakh," R. Petrosian said: "Nothing of
the kind goes on in my opinion. No one is going to cede Nagorno
Karabakh. However I find it difficult to answer what solution will
be found, as only a few persons are aware of the own business of
the authorities."

Considering as a very strong chess move S. Sargsyan’s policy in
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, in particular, inviting
Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia, R. Petrosian meanwhile
said that the Armenian authorities do not hope that Turkey can meet
Armenia half-way, as it has always been Armenia’s potential rival
and will protect Azerbaijan’s interests. "Nevertheless, if even the
Armenian-Turkish border is not opened, the world will once more see
that Turkey is not ready for normalizing its relations with Armenia,"
the RPA deputy emphasized.