“We will negotiate better than the current government” is the only promise by the opposition so far.
The slogans “this is the struggle for the motherland, this is not a struggle for the government,” “Nikol must go, then we will try to fix the ruins he left” are political. The opposition has set a goal of the change of government, therefore the opposition struggle is political, as the demand of changing the power cannot be not political. Moreover, this process is connected with the foreign political processes around Armenia. “Aravot” told the Former Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan, in Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetary on May 9 the opinions of Edmon Marukyan, Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, that now it’s not the right time for the change of the government, as Armenia’s negotiating position will deteriorate. Seyran Ohanyan replied that he has noticed that “authorities can use the movement in the foreign policy saying that our people are not broken yet, they have the spirit of struggle.”
According to Seyran Ohanyan, “The state can use the spirit of our struggle for the foreign policy.” Therefore, even the opposition realized that not only they are sending external signals to the centers outside of Armenia, but also Prime Minister Pashinyan can use the internal political struggle both in the relations with the partner countries and in negotiations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. It is another question that to what extent Armenia’s current government can benefit from that “opportunity” for the interests of Armenia. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, MP from “Hayastan” faction, vice-speaker of the parliament, delivered a more or less political speech presenting the ideas and principles of the opposition, responding to the criticizm that the opposition doesn’t have a plan. On several occasions, Ishkhan Saghatelyan already mentioned that “we don’t say we are coming to declare war on Turkey and Azerbaijan and stop the negotiations.” That is to say, which will be the steps of the opposition when it comes to power? They are effective management, restoration and strengthening of the army and armament. Ishkhan Saghatelyan confessed a few days ago that the opposition is not going renounce the talks and statements signed by Pashinyan. Although the statements are unacceptable for them, they are already facts.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan also referred to Armenia-Turkey relations at the May 9 rally of the “Resistance” movement, noting that if they rule out any agreement, wich would question the deprivation of motherland and the genocide of the Armenians, as well as the right to bear the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenians. These are general positions, the implementation of which requires prerequisite, favorable environment and cultivated programs. The opposition still says that they are going to negotiate with Turkey and Azerbaijan, but not from the position in which Pashinyan is, that is to say that they are going to negotiate better than the current government. It’s not clear yet how the opposition will put the question of Artsakh’s status on the agenda if they take into account the trilateral statements signed by Pashinyan so far, where there is no mention of the status of Nagorno Karabakh? Moreover, Russia, the main sponsor of those statements, expects Armenia and Azerbaijan to implement the reached agreements – delimitation and demarcation of the borders and signing a peace agreement.
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Judging by the use of attributes used in the events organized in Yerevan on May 9, from the waving of Russia’s flag to the use of the “Z” sign, everything is being done so that Russia not only notices the Russian direction of Armenia, but also Moscow appreciates the struggle.
Does the opposition rule out that Moscow can be the first beneficiary of the oppositional struggle, which may have another “deal” Pashinyan, as a result of which another Armenia-Azerbaijan-Russia trilateral document can be signed, and Kremlin indirectly would make it to the opposition that it is enough, Armenia needs “stability” now.
Emma GABRIELYAN
