WikiLeaks: U.S. ambassador reported decreasing number of ANC supporters

PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks has published a series of classified cables, including one from the former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Ms. Marie Yovanovitch.

“Under the shadow of a heavy police presence, the opposition led by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) held its second rally of the year on May 1. LTP accused President Sargsyan of being willing to pay any price - even denial of the genocide - to remain in power, as evidenced by his support for the April 22 joint statement with Turkey regarding normalization of relations. The rally came on the eve of the May 2 kick-off of the campaign for Yerevan's first-ever municipal election on May 31. Despite opposition claims that tens of thousands attended the event, Emboffs assessed the crowd size at six-to-eight thousand,” the ambassador wrote.

“The opposition complained that their numbers were reduced by roadblocks that the police erected in Armenia's regions to stop people traveling to Yerevan for the rally. Numerous media outlets reported on May 2 that most roads leading into Yerevan had been blocked and public transportation halted only to resume at 5 pm, after the rally had finished. However, the Chief of Police denied this to Ambassador.”

“LTP charged that President Sargsyan's support of rapprochement "at any cost, including renunciation of the Genocide," was given in order "to solve the problem of his legitimacy" and "keep his hold on power." According to LTP, Sargsyan's next step will be to "sell out Nagorno-Karabakh," she continued.

“LTP then also blamed the Diaspora and former President Kocharian for setting up Sargsyan to fail on the issue, arguing that they together had made genocide recognition a centerpiece of Armenian foreign policy issue over the past decade."

The ambassador went on to say that “In contrast with the large turnouts at LTP's campaign and protest rallies in 2008, the May 1 event paled in comparison. Although the road blocks likely prevented regional supporters from attending the rally, LTP's traditional base of support has always been in Yerevan - where people were free to come and go on May 1, and where warm weather and a holiday made conditions ideal for a large turnout. Although one can never rule out the wily ex-president, slackening attendance at his rallies suggests that his supporters might be losing faith in his chances to win an election in the current political climate.