ANC shifts focus from snap elections to regular

October 28, 2011 - 22:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc rally, which has gathered the least number of supporters in 2011, kicked off at Yerevan’s Liberty Square to the sound of Armenian national anthem.

ANC rally commemorates 1999 parliament terror attack victims

Haykakan Zhamanak editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinyan delivered the opening speech at ANC rally, urging those present to commemorate the victims of Oct 27, 1999 parliament terror attack.

As Pashinyan noted, “those who orchestrated Oct 27 attack, seized the parliament, turned the government into a spineless structure, set up March 2008 events in the center of Yerevan to shoot at peaceful population, continuing to kill hopes of the citizens of Armenia.” He stressed that the perpetrators of Oct 27 attack will appear before the people’s court, similarly to Mubarak, Ben Ali and Gaddafi.

Serzh Sargsyan urged to follow Karen Karapetyan’s suit

Nikol Pashinyan commented on resignation of Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan, noting “the sooner representatives of this criminal regime resign, the better the country will do without them. It’s now President Serzh Sargsyan’s turn to follow their suit.”

Hrant Bagratyan and economic growth

A member of ANC, ex-PM Hrant Bagratyan slammed the government’s economic policy as “marasmic”.

In his statement at ANC rally, Bagratyan referred to the strike of Armenian NPP staff, 2012 state budget and government-provided economic growth indices. The ex-PM accused the government of providing false data, with only metal mining industry to account for possible growth.

Aram Manukyan comments on Serzh Sargsyan's clients

Armenian National Movement (ANM) board chairman cited current president Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation as the only issue on Armenia’s political agenda. At ANC opposition bloc rally, Aram Manukyan urged the country’s political forces to sort out their priorities.

“Political forces must decide to either support Sargsyan’s resignation or become his clients.” Manukyan blamed the small number of today’s rally participants on authorities who “increased the roads’ blockade to prevent ANC supporters from making it to the demonstration.”

People’s pressure and presidential resignation

ANC opposition bloc coordinator blames the authorities for deliberately undermining the opposition –coalition dialogue “which would otherwise result in the change of power”. As Levon Zurabyan stated at ANC rally, the Congress will use public pressure to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation.

As Zurabyan noted, the change of power can also be initiated based on art. 57 of Armenian Constitution (president’s resignation for crime or high treason).

“Considering the problems inside the regime itself, ANC has all the necessary tools to create an unprecedented wave of public protest to bring about Sargsyan’s resignation,” he stressed.

ANC and regular elections

ANC opposition bloc leader urged ANC supporters to prepare themselves for participating in regular parliament election as a step toward brining about resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan.

As Levon Ter-Petrossian stressed at the rally, ANC must start serious preparation for oncoming parliamentary race.

“The internal political struggle is entering a decisive phase. ANC will take every effort to achieve snap parliamentary election, yet unfortunately, not everything depends on the Congress,” ANC leader said.

Dwelling on technical aspects of parliamentary race, Ter-Petrossian stressed the necessity of excluding about 500000 people, which bring about the authorities’ victory, from voters lists. “Without that step, any changes in Electoral Code will prove useless,” ANC leader concluded.

According to Ter-Petrossian, the struggle is entering a decisive phase. “Today, we took a step towards a final victory, and this time the people won’t let it slip away,” he said.

Addressing rally participants, he stressed, “you’re the only people who, 4 years after the elections, are struggling for their rights with the same energy and resolute courage.”

With the next ANC rally scheduled for November 20, demonstrators started a march in central streets of Yerevan holding up “Serzh, Go Away” banners.