“It is not an ultimatum, but advice of senior comrade”
The authorities should view the opposition's demands not as an ultimatum but as advice of a senior comrade, says "Republic" Party Chairman Aram Sargsyan.
Sargsyan has been following press reports about the 15 demands since the opposition's rally of March 1.
"The most interesting is that neither pro-government not opposition media refute them. No one denies that the roads are blocked during opposition's rallies. No one denies the existence of political prisoners in Armenia. The authorities say they should not be spoken to in the language of ultimatums. But this is not an ultimatum; this is a solution to the problem," said Sargsyan.
"If after the clashes of March 1, 2008, the opposition was able to rally so many people it means that the society is discontent with the authorities," he said adding that the unrest in the Arab world is likely to repeat in Armenia if the problems are not settled in time.
"Protests will not bring honor to us as Armenia is not an African backward country; Armenia is as part of Europe," said Sargsyan.
"The authorities are doing everything to endanger the country's security. They say, "Keep silent and let us violate laws, monopolize the economy and shut down the media. How long can this permissiveness last? Will they impose a state of emergency every three years?"
Former military prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan says Levon Ter-Petrosyan is genuinely pained by the country and its people, that's why he has shown a way out of the crisis.
"The authorities should decide whether to accept the offer or not. If today they are not ready for sacrifices, tomorrow they will lose everything," said Jhangiryan.
