The leader of the opposition, the Armenian National Congress, Levon Ter-Petrosyan began his address to the rally on September 23 with a statement that judging by WikiLeaks, the United States knew about the character of the government of Armenia even earlier than us.
They knew that the elections of 2008 were marred by large-scale falsification and irregularities. In particular, the American diplomats mentioned in their cables that he had received 30-35% while 21.5% was announced, which means that there was to be a second round.
It has also become known that the OSCE/ODIHR evaluated the elections under pressure and fulfilled the political decision of the OSCE member states. The phrase թ§Չ-ժthe elections were mainly compliantթ§Չ-Թ allowed the decision of the government to disperse the rallies and to crack down on peaceful demonstrators on March 1, stated Levon Ter-Petrosyan. The Constitutional Court also became known to have undergone pressure.
The American diplomats claim that the government in Armenia is a classic kleptocracy headed by Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, and several clans govern almost the entire economic potential. The oligarchs coalesced with the government have gained colossal political weight, the American diplomats stated in their cables. Levon Ter-Petrosyan referred to other documents published by WikiLeaks which confirm the criminal nature of the government of Armenia and its illegitimacy.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that these evaluations coincide with the position of the Armenian National Congress. The West knew that in 2008 Serzh Sargsyan did not win the elections and usurped power but decided to shut an eye and support him, Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated.
The first president of Armenia thinks that the main goal of the United States with Armenia was the Armenian and Turkish relations. In addition, he noted that the normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations and the settlement of the Karabakh issue are not only in the interests of the United States and Europe but also of the states of the region, including Armenia. It is obvious that the resolution of these issues could help weaken the influence of Russia and Iran, enable transportation of energy resources from Central Asia to Europe.
The goal of the West is good but their mistake was the choice of the way to this goal, Levon Ter-Petrosyan states. In an effort to resolve the issues of Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh issue the West bet on Serzh Sargsyan whom he considered as an illegitimate, corrupt and criminal politicians, let alone the factor of public confidence.
However, the West failed to reach this goal, and its support aggravated the anti-popular nature of the government, further aggravating the crisis of democracy and lawfulness.
The United States and Europe must understand that they can reach their goals with legitimate governments enjoying the confidence of their people, the first president stated.
Independent from the relations with the West, the Armenian people cannot accept unlawfulness and a criminal government.
թ§Չ-ժSo far the Congress has been trying to resolve this problem through peaceful ways, and entered a dialogue with the government to this end. However, the government apparently understands the language of pressure only. Consequently, we need to boost pressure and make the government meet our demands:
1. Hold snap presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of the year.
2. Make essential amendments to the RA Election Code prior to the elections, including the ones proposed by us.
3. Reveal and prosecute those responsible for the ten murders on March 1, 2008 in the upcoming three months.
4. Set the political prisoner Tigran Arakelyan free and dismiss the cases of the seven young activists of the Congress.
5. Lift the unlawful ban on street trade in Yerevan city.
6. Repeal the decision to remove kiosks in Yerevan.
7. Stop mutation of the architectural characteristics of the capital and prohibit the construction of tall buildings in the center of Yerevan.
8 Prohibit by law the practice of prosecution of media and reporters by high-ranking government officials, members of parliament and local government heads.թ§Չ-Թ
The leader of the opposition, Levon Ter-Petrosyan said they are not maximalists and are ready to consider the compromise offered by the government. He announced that the next meeting will be on September 30.
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