April 28 is deadline for Armenian authorities
The rallies organized by the opposition alliance Armenian National Congress (HAK) have gathered fresh momentum, instilling great hopes and excitement among Armenian people, HAK Coordinator Levon Zurabyan told a news conference on April 13.
"The number of rally participants continues increasing which shows that the movement has become pan-national," said Zurabyan.
Speaking about the provocation incited by the police during the April 8 rally, the HAK coordinator said: "The police have become a tool for the authorities to terrorize demonstrators. Policemen visit people's homes and threaten them to stay away from opposition rallies, they block the roads leading to the capital and ban attendance at rallies. No one but our police officers break public order during the rallies."
In this context, the HAK representative highlighted the importance of the April 28 rally which, according to him, will either declare the final watershed between the authorities and the public or start a dialogue between the authorities and opposition.
When asked what the HAK would do if the authorities fail to meet the opposition's demands before April 28, Levon Zurabyan said they did not have a certain plan of actions.
"This is a dynamic political process. We are not inclined to talk to the authorities in the language of ultimatums. If Levon Ter-Petrosyan intends to set ultimatums, he will do it in a plain political language, I assure you."
According to the HAK coordinator, HAK has no conflicts with other opposition forces [Heritage and ARF-D].
"HAK's conflict is only with the regime. HAK will not engage in debates with other political forces as the alliance considers the regime to be its only target," Zurabyan concluded.
During the April 8 rally, ANC leader Ter-Petrosyan demanded from the authorities that they release all "political prisoners," allow free organization of rallies at Liberty Square, as well as investigate the March 1, 2008, events.
