YEREVAN—Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian on Sunday walked out from a meeting with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan saying that a political alliance that has received seven to eight percent of the votes cannot speak on behalf of the entire population.
“[A political] alliance that has won seven to eight percent of votes does not have the right to speak on behalf of the entire population and I no longer want to continue this discussion with you if you do not accept the government’s legal demands. Good bye,” said Sarkisian before walking out.
On Saturday it was announced that the two had agreed to the meeting, which took place at 10 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel on Republic Square, the main site of ongoing demonstrations—in their 9th day—by thousands who are protesting Sarkisian’s ongoing rule. The meeting was announced after President Armen Sarkissian met with Pashinian during the protest on Saturday and held a meeting with the prime minister separately.
At the beginning of the tense meeting, which lasted less than five minutes, Sarkisian said, “I am happy that you responded to my numerous calls to dialogue, .although I don’t quite imagine how long we can negotiate in the presence of dozens of reporters, nevertheless I am happy.”
Pashinyan responded by saying that there seemed to have been a misunderstanding, adding that he was there to discuss the prime minister’s resignation and a peaceful transfer of power and not to hold a dialogue.
“That’s not a negotiation, that’s not a dialogue,” said Sarkisian facing television cameras and journalists. “That is simply an ultimatum, blackmailing the state and legitimate authorities. You do not realize the degree of responsibility. You didn’t learn lessons from March 1 [2008]. And if we have to speak in that tone, then I am only left to once again advise you to return to the lawful area and act within the limits of reasonable actions. Otherwise the entire responsibility falls on you.”
Pashinyan said that neither he nor the protesters respond kindly to ultimatums, adding that the situation in Armenia has changed and the power has transitioned to the people.
Before leaving the meeting, Sarkisian turned to the reporters and said,“Dear reporters, it is up to you to make your own conclusions.”
After Sarkisian walked out, Pashinyan told reporters that the rally would continue at 7 p.m. on Sunday, only to emerge from the Marriott Hotel where hundreds of his supporters were gathered, prompting the rally and demonstration to begin, with Pashinyan leading the crowd to the Erebuni neighborhood of Yerevan.
Follow the developing news live on Azatutyun.am
Instead of asking Serge sarkisian to resign he (Nikol Pashinian) should have asked him for a new all out Parliamentary Elections soon as- the New Constitution allows. If the prime minister refuses, Pashinian will have good reason, to continue what he embarked upon. Considering history of previous elections weren’t Free and Democratic.This would have justified his platform and will get much more public support.
Instead of asking Serge sarkisian to resign he (Nikol Pashinian) should have asked him for a new all out Parliamentary Elections soon as- the New Constitution allows. If the prime minister refuses, Pashinian will have good reason, to continue what he embarked upon. Considering history of previous elections weren’t Free and Democratic.This would have justified his platform and will get much more public support.
TIME IS RIPE TIME HAS COME ARMENIA AND ITS PEOPLE TO BE SET FREE FROM AN OLIGARCH, A DICTATOR, A CORRUPTED RULER.
THIS IS THE FREE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF ARMENIA WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR YEARS WHO HAVE SEEN ALL THEIR LEGITIMATE RIGHTS SUPPRESSED, HAVE UNDERGONE VIOLENT PROSECUTION, INFRINGEMENT OF THEIR INTEGRITY FROM A CORRUPTED GANG.
THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FOR THE PROUD AND HEROIC PEOPLE OF ARMENIA.
THE SITUATION IS TENSE AND THE CORRUPTED GANG WILL DEPLOY ALL UNLAWFUL MEANS TO CRACK DOWN ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEACEFULLY FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTER AND ABOVE ALL FOR THEIR INTEGRITY AND FOR THEIR WILL TO LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC AND FREE COUNTRY WHERE JUSTICE, TRANSPARENCY, RULE OF LAW, AND ECONOMIC WELFARE FOR ALL WILL BE RESTORED THRU FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.
HAIG KARAYAN
They made their point, IT’S TIME TO STOP IT ‘NOW’: In 2 days April 24 millions of Armenians and supporters will commemorate the Armenian Genocide, instead of concentrating on the Genocide, the enemies of Armenia by their proxies are dividing the Armenian people for their own benefits, I call them traitors, if they wanted to demonstrate for whatever reason, the timing was off and they should have waited until the April 24 was gone, this kind of act without common sense makes these people S holes instead of patriots, Somebody should investigate who’s financing these people including Pashinian himself, foreign hands may be involved to destabilize Armenia, the way they destabilized Ukraine, Syria and others…
The timing is bad, days before April 24 commemoration, that shows the bad faith that these people carry, enemies of Armenia are acting, they should be closely monitored and investigated.
For every Armenians in the world a dream came to reality having a free Armenia and having our own doing what others did to us is unacceptable , this government should retire .
The ARF should leave the coalition with Sargsyan immediately and ask for snap elections. Sargsyan has no future in Armenia.
The ARF, now forever known as the flip flopping enablers of cronyism and oligarchism in Armenian History. I guess the 1918 first Republic debacles were not enough of a stain. Boy how far you have fallen the past 20 years.
ՄԻԱՑԵՔ, ՀԱՅՐԵՆԻՔԻ ԶԱՎԱԿՆԵՐ,
ՊԱՅՔԱՐԻ ԺԱՄԸ ԵԿԵԼ Է,
ՄԵՐ ԴԻՄԱՑ ԿԱՆԳՆԱԾ Է ԲՌՆԱԿԱԼԸ,
ՍԱԿԱՅՆ ՆՐԱ ԺԱՄԵՐԸ ՀԱՇՎԱԾ ԵՆ:
Mr Prime Minister
Question; would do not talk or feed if this was your children?
I doubt very much that you would do it.
All should be done properly
God Bless Armenia
For every Armenian in the world a dream came in to reality , having a free Armenia ,and having our own doing what others did us is unacceptable ,this government should retire.