“Haykakan Zhamanak” notes that only two opposition groups, the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the Founding Parliament, have so far explicitly rejected President Serzh Sarkisian’s constitutional changes and pledged to campaign against their enactment. “Even if the Zharangutyun party joins the No campaign, it is obvious that these three forces do not have sufficient resources to unleash serious political processes this fall and need greater political consolidation,” writes the paper. “But chances of achieving such consolidation are decreasing by the day.”
“Hraparak” is also highly skeptical about the radical oppositionists’ ability to generate a strong popular movement against the constitutional reform. “The opposition forces have more differences among themselves than with the ruling Republican Party (HHK),” explains the paper. “Despite growing popular discontent and growing problems in the country, the authorities are strong enough to push through the constitutional changes.”
“Zhamanak” reacts to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s statement to the effect that Russia and the United States will continue to work together in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process despite having serious differences on a host of other issues. “That the Russian-Armenian confrontation does not reflect negatively on the Karabakh conflict is certainly good, especially considering that confrontation’s impact on Armenia’s economy,” writes the paper. “On the other hand, we should probably keep in mind that during all these years it is the Russian-American rivalry that has sustained the [Karabakh] status and spared us concessions that could have been very painful and dangerous for the security of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” attacks President Serzh Sarkisian for telling a group of talented schoolchildren this week that they cannot achieve anything good or important in their lives with “malevolence.” “This is said by someone who became president in 2008 at the cost of ten human lives and continues to occupy the post of president,” says the pro-opposition paper. “[In his words,] security forces killed ten people and arrested hundreds of others in March 2008 with kindness.”
(Tigran Avetisian)