OPPOSITION SPEAKS OUT

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 21 2009
Armenia

The September 18 speech of Armenian National Congress opposition
leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan inferred two political intrigues.

The opposition supporters were astonished to hear their leader would
not participate in early presidential elections if the incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan resigns due to negative developments in
Armenia-Turkey normalization and Karabakh issue processes. However,
before the several-thousand crowd got puzzled with the news,
Ter-Petrosyan pointed out he will do so only after RA Former President
Robert Kocharyan refuses to run for the race.

If we hypothetically assume that Serzh Sargsyan quits, his predecessor
Robert Kocharyan will be the only possible candidate from the governing
coalition (definitely many will be against him, however at the moment
there is no other candidate) then, Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s walkout from
the race becomes very unlikely.

The second intrigue is that ANC leader offered Armenian authorities
another time-out to independently resolve the problems on
Armenia-Turkey relations and Karabakh issue. He emphasized he will
not allow the opposition to be drawn into the perilous developments
and the authorities’ game in Armenia-Turkey normalization. That is why
ANC will refrain from protesting rallies scheduled for late September
and leave the date of the next demonstration in abeyance.

It is evident that Levon Ter-Petrosyan adheres to the tactics voiced
at October 17, 2008 meeting, "ANC does not intend to be a mere toy
in international community hands to pressurize Armenia on Karabakh
conflict. Moreover, the ANC being the only oppositional force capable
of organizing mass protest actions, does not intend to assist the
authorities in demonstrating the international community the widespread
discontent over foreign policy course.

Thus, the next opposition rally will take place after the next
developments in Karabakh issue and Armenia-Turkey relations’
normalization.