Armenian press mulls resolution of standoff with armed opposition

The following is a selection of quotes from articles and commentaries published in the 26 June editions of Armenian newspapers:


The armed standoff may have political consequences


Aravot (pro-opposition): "As it was said previously, this situation has three possible denouements to the situation: a) [President] Serzh Sargsyan resigns (which is a least possible option), b) the gunmen surrender c) the law-enforcers conduct an operation against the gunmen (the most undesirable option). However, regardless of which option comes true I should make a painful prediction; actions like storming the police patrol station will continue and the next one will be even more dangerous with more grave consequences.


"The whole problem is that in case of materialization of both second and third options the outcome will be one and the same, probably with some difference in timing. The point is that the authorities have lost their vigilance, lost contact to life and do not have a clear idea of the amount of dissatisfaction and hatred . It seems to them that against the background of general loyalty only certain groups of people are dissatisfied or protesting, because they are victims of the opposition propaganda, without realizing that it cannot be better than it is now.


"However the situation now is different and the fact that most citizens have no 'immunity' against armed political confrontation and are not in principle against shooting, burning or killing, should suggest something to the authorities. But for this, once again, the authorities need to face the reality, which is harsh for them. Up until the moment that they do this there will appear new groups who will have the temptation to resolve issues through weapons." 


Zhoghovurd (pro-opposition): "The possibility of holding a meeting [between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents] has in a certain sense a connection with the possible resolution of the events unfolding in Khorenatsi street [reference to the police station standoff, and public reaction to this event]. Moscow already has made it clear what its expected denouement is. If we keep in mind that the revolt against the plan to hand over the liberated territories [reference to the Armenian-controlled Azerbaijan's districts around breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh] or the 'Lavrov plan' was at the core of the events in Khorenatsi street, it becomes clear how difficult it would be for Serzh Sargsyan to make such a decision which would not weaken his positions in the external front as well as will not make him a traitor to the nation.


"If Serzh Sargsyan fails to resolve the crisis through force, this could be perceived as a sign of his weakness and incapacity to implement any agreement reached at talks. Moreover, it might be perceived as a planned action to postpone talks with an aim to avoid pressures in the matter of territorial concessions. So the failure to reach a result, as designed by Moscow, might lead to a decision in the Kremlin to depose Sargsyan. Meanwhile, in case of an operation [against opposition gunmen], that is to say in case of bloodshed the Armenian people will pass an identical resolution.


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