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Thursday 21 February 2008

Armenia: 'Karabakh movement'-2?

I really hope that this news means that the army will be kept away "from interfering with politics and being used against people"

Breaking news

DEPUTY MINISTERS OF DEFENSE JOIN POPULAR MOVEMENT

*UPDATE: According to IA Regnum, Armenian defense minister’s press secretary Seyran Shahsuvaryan denied Ter-Petrosyan announcement about support by two deputy defense ministers (as per below) to his opposition movement. I will follow the events and will update the info as soon as possible.

*UPDATE (2): EurasiaNet - One close associate of Grigorian who said that he had attended the discussions between the general and Ter-Petrosian, affirmed the information, however. "If the people are with Levon, he is with the people," the associate, who asked not to be named, said in reference to Grigorian. "The general has always taken the side of the people." The source has told EurasiaNet that the two generals plan to address the opposition rally on February 22. If it occurs, such a move could arguably bring considerable dividends to the Ter-Petrosian campaign and encourage other groups to sign on board.

*UPDATE (3): EurasiaNet - Yet, despite the generals’ no-show [during the rally], the deputy chairman of a Nagorno Karabakh war veterans group headed by General Grigorian, [Malkhasian] maintains that the statements about the general’s support for the ex-president stand.In an interview with RFE/RL, Malkhasian also did not deny Ter-Petrosian’s assertion that the two generals are “negotiating” with the chief of army staff, Colonel-General Seyran Ohanian, to keep the military in the barracks. “Everyone is interested in a fair solution to this issue in order to avoid unnecessary clashes,” he said. “This is what all Armenian officers and generals want.”

Lragir and A1+: During the rally underway at the Square of Freedom [Liberty sq] about an hour ago Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that yesterday he met with the deputy minister of defense, Lieutenant-General Manvel Grigoryan. Levon Ter-Petrosyan said at the time of his address, deputy defense ministers Manvel Grigoryan and Gagik Melkonyan are negotiating with the chief of the general staff of the armed force Seyran Ohanyan. The issue of the negotiation is that Manvel Grigoryan and Gagik Melkonyan state that as deputy ministers of defense they will stand beside of people.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan is convinced that the other commanders of the army will be on the side of people. He said that Manvel Grigoryan and Gagik Melkonyan stated they will prevent the army from interfering with politics and being used against people, and Manvel Grigoryan and Gagik Melkonyan are guarantors of the security of the Armenian people.

Today for the first time the deputy leader of the Yerkrapah Union of Compatriots Miasnik Malkhasyan stated that the Yerkrapah Union of Compatriots is standing beside people.

...earlier

APPEAL TO STUDENTS FOR SIT-DOWN STRIKE

Lragir: During the rally now underway at the Square of Freedom the leader of the Conservative Party of Armenia Michael Hairapetyan urged the students to go on a sitting strike. Then Levon Ter-Petrosyan addressed the rally and also urged the students to go on a sit-down strike and join the rally at 3 pm [tomorrow].

*source of photo: IA Regnum

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