NO HALL GIVEN TO ANC

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The venue of the next conference of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) due on December 19 hasn’t been decided yet, although all organisational issues have been solved, ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan said today.

After the March 1 events all hotels refuse giving halls to the opposition. On December 3 the ANC requested the government to allot the opposition the conference hall but they haven’t received an answer yet.

The Government’s silence creates a serious organisational problem for the Congress. December 19 is drawing nearer, but we still don’t know the Government’s decision. In case of a positive response, the ANC will have little time to print invitations and settle other problems. Hence, if the government does not respond by December 15, the ANC will consider it as a refusal. It will mean that the Armenian Government continues to violate the freedom to rallies. The opposition will report on it to the Council of Europe, and raise the issue at the National Assembly through the Heritage Party.

Levon Zurabyan says that the refusal will not hinder the Congress from conveying its message to people. The Congress has much to say. One of the ways of conveying this message, according to Levon Zurabyan, is to hold the conference in Georgia, but this option needs to be discussed. Technically, there are no problems, it will be expensive. As far as diplomatic and political problems are concerned, the ANC representative hopes there will be no problems since Georgia is a democratic country.

The ANC coordinator also said that they would like to inform the government through reporters that if December 19 is not convenient, the Congress will shift the conference for December 21, 22, 23, and so on.

Asked whether the opposition may resume demonstrations and marches Levon Zurabyan said: “In depends on home political and geopolitical developments. We think the time for mass demonstrations has not matured yet.”