RPA: Armenian authorities even do not consider pre-term elections

PanARMENIAN.Net - Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group Eduard Sharmazanov said that organization of pre-term elections and resignation of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan are not on the agenda of Armenian authorities.

“The leader of the Armenian National Congress stated on March 17 that they are not in a hurry, so we will wait until the regular elections,” Sharmazanov jokingly said during a press conference in Yerevan.

Commenting on the March 17 opposition rally and the fact that the Police allowed the demonstrators to enter Liberty Square, Sharmazanov said that the Armenian authorities stand for dialogue with any political forces and civilized methods of political struggle.

He also urged not to ascribe the police’s actions to the visit of PACE rapporteurs on Armenia John Prescott and Axel Fischer to Yerevan.

Asked whether Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and ministers of the economic bloc will be fired, if they fail to fulfill the instructions of President Serzh Sargsyan on improving the social and economic situation in the country until May-June, Sharmazanov said that this matter is not on the authorities’ agenda. “Only implementation of large-scale reforms is on the authorities’ agenda, but not the Prime Minister’s resignation,” he said.

At the same time Sharmazanov reminded that the President noted in his statement that no accuses will be accepted in case of programs failure.

On March 17, initially several thousands of people gathered at 05:15pm for the opposition Armenian National Congress rally at the institute of ancient manuscripts, Matenadaran, in Yerevan. Police brigades controlled the areas near Matenadaran, Liberty Square and State Conservatory building.

Prior to the rally launch, messages were circulating among the Armenian oppositionists that the Armenian National Congress is planning to lead its supporters towards Liberty Square, despite the municipal ban. Besides, opposition supporters urged rally participants to march in the direction of the RA presidential residence.

At the end of the rally, leader of the Armenian opposition, RA first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan addressed the rally. After it, at around 06:30pm local time, Armenian National Congress (ANC) coordinator Levon Zurabyan urged opposition rally participants to march towards the Liberty Square. The crowd enthusiastically responded to the urge. The police allowed the demonstrators' entrance after negotiations between Zurabyan and Deputy Chief of Armenian Police Alexander Afyan. At 08:25pm the Armenian opposition rally re-launched at Yerevan Liberty Square, though electricity was cut out. The ANC leaders urged the rally participants to follow their orders and calls. Levon Ter-Petrosyan spoke at the rally, urging the authorities to meet the opposition's demands: immediate liberation of opposition supporters, permission to hold rallies at Liberty Square, discovery of March 1 crimes. Besides, he called on the ANC supporters to obey instructions of the ANC. The rally at the Liberty Square was over at around 09:15pm. Some rally participants stayed at the square, expressing their support to leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian, who has launched a hunger strike since March 15.