RPA SPOKESPERSON: TODAY THERE IS NO DOMESTIC TENSION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
June 24, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Irrespective of the fact what part of
society thinks, by granting an amnesty, the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, ruling coalition and the President showed a political
will, the goal of which was to create an atmosphere of dialogue and
tolerance in society. RPA Spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov stated on
June 24. According to him, it was the first amnesty of such a large
scale in Armenia’s modern history. In response to the question of
whether the authorities would show such a political will if discussion
of the issue of Armenia were not expected at the PACE sitting, he
said that everything the authorities do is first of all done for
country’s society.

E. Sharmazanov did not share the apprehension that the release of the
persons accused on the 2008 March 1 cases will increase the domestic
tension. In his words, March 1 is one of the most notorious pages in
Armenia’s history, which has not been finally closed yet. However,
according to him, there is no tension in society today, and the times
when tension could be created artificially have passed. According to
him, Yerevan Council of Elders elections showed that the opposition
is inclined to use civilized ways of struggle and is preparing for
the 2012 parliamentary elections at present.

E. Sharmazanov considers rather vague the possibility of unification
of three opposition forces, Armenian National Congress, ARFD and
Zharangutiun, as he does not think that they have ideological
communities. According to him, Zharangutiun can cooperate
with Dashnaktsutiun at the parliament and with ANC outside the
parliament. However, it is obvious that any attempt of Zharangutiun
to be independent receives a counterblow by the Congress, which is
understandable in consideration of the inevitable competition between
opposition forces in the coming parliamentary elections.