ARF calls for unconditioned dialogue between authorities and opposition
21.04.2018,
18:05
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun (ARF), the junior partner of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, has welcomed prime minister Serzh Sargsyan’s call on the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan to end street protests, caused by Sargsyan’s election as prime minister, a representative of the ARF Supreme Body Arsen Hambartzumyan said today.
YEREVAN, April 21. /ARKA/. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun (ARF), the junior partner of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, has welcomed prime minister Serzh Sargsyan’s call on the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan to end street protests, caused by Sargsyan’s election as prime minister, a representative of the ARF Supreme Body Arsen Hambartzumyan said today.
In a statement posted on the government’s official webpage Sargsyan said he was deeply concerned about political developments in the country, urging Nikol Pashinyan to sit at the political dialogue and negotiations table in order to avoid irreparable losses.
"The only issue we can discuss with the authorities is Sargsyan's resignation, after which we will discuss the other terms, which should be acceptable not for me, but for the people," Pashinyan said earlier today, adding that Sargsyan does not control the situation any longer. "I think that he does not have a clear idea of what is happening across the country today," Pashinyan said.
"We welcome the prime minister's call for immediate dialogue and negotiations, which is in line with the path proposed by the Dashnaktsutyun that will prevent further escalation of tensions in Armenia, which could have serious consequences for our people and the country," Hambardzumyan said.
According to him, political prudence and dialogue is the way that can lead to solving a lot of accumulated problems in the country.
"Through political dialogue it is possible to solve the deep-rooted problems that prompted people to take to streets and do it safely and without upheavals. Rationalism dictates negotiations without preconditions and ultimatums. It is also necessary to put in motion a real political agenda with specific deadlines that will meet the interests of our people and lead to visible changes," said Hambardzumyan.
The anti-government protests in Armenia began on April 13 after Armenia's ruling Republican Party nominated former president Serzh Sargsyan for the prime minister’s post. Serzh Sargsyan resigned as president on April 9 and was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on April 17 by a vote of 77 to 17.
According to Armenia’s amended its constitution, approved in a national referendum in 2015, Armenia has switched the government from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system making the presidency largely ceremonial and strengthening the office of the prime minister.
The protests are led by Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the opposition Yelk parliamentary faction, who declared April 17 the beginning of popular, non-violent "velvet revolution" urging demonstrators to keep besieging ministries, the prosecutor's office, the central bank and other governmental buildings.-0-
In a statement posted on the government’s official webpage Sargsyan said he was deeply concerned about political developments in the country, urging Nikol Pashinyan to sit at the political dialogue and negotiations table in order to avoid irreparable losses.
"The only issue we can discuss with the authorities is Sargsyan's resignation, after which we will discuss the other terms, which should be acceptable not for me, but for the people," Pashinyan said earlier today, adding that Sargsyan does not control the situation any longer. "I think that he does not have a clear idea of what is happening across the country today," Pashinyan said.
"We welcome the prime minister's call for immediate dialogue and negotiations, which is in line with the path proposed by the Dashnaktsutyun that will prevent further escalation of tensions in Armenia, which could have serious consequences for our people and the country," Hambardzumyan said.
According to him, political prudence and dialogue is the way that can lead to solving a lot of accumulated problems in the country.
"Through political dialogue it is possible to solve the deep-rooted problems that prompted people to take to streets and do it safely and without upheavals. Rationalism dictates negotiations without preconditions and ultimatums. It is also necessary to put in motion a real political agenda with specific deadlines that will meet the interests of our people and lead to visible changes," said Hambardzumyan.
The anti-government protests in Armenia began on April 13 after Armenia's ruling Republican Party nominated former president Serzh Sargsyan for the prime minister’s post. Serzh Sargsyan resigned as president on April 9 and was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on April 17 by a vote of 77 to 17.
According to Armenia’s amended its constitution, approved in a national referendum in 2015, Armenia has switched the government from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system making the presidency largely ceremonial and strengthening the office of the prime minister.
The protests are led by Nikol Pashinyan, the head of the opposition Yelk parliamentary faction, who declared April 17 the beginning of popular, non-violent "velvet revolution" urging demonstrators to keep besieging ministries, the prosecutor's office, the central bank and other governmental buildings.-0-
