Sarkisian’s Press Secretary Responds to Hovannisian

YEREVAN—President Serzh Sarkisian’s spokesman Armen Arzumanyan issued a statement Wednesday, saying that Sarkisian’s proposal of March 25 to opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian remained in force

On Monday, Sarkisian responded to an earlier letter from Hovannisian, in which the latter called for among other things “comprehensive power sharing. In his response, Sarkisian said Hovannisian’s text “will help in starting constructive dialogue,” said Sarkisian. “I am happy that you have expressed readiness to take oversight responsibilities worthy of a strong opposition, and in that issue it seems that we hold similar views. I am confident that if we start working together, with the same goal in mind, we can achieve results.”

On Tuesday, Hovnnisian said he was encouraged by Sarkisian’s willingness to discuss the future of Armenia and urged him to come to Liberty Square where he has been on hunger strike since March 10 to continue talks.

The presidential spokesman on Wednesday said that Sarkisian has “always been very patient and constructive in his steps.”

“The President’s meetings are organized in accordance with a planned schedule and take place at the President’s Office,” Arzumanyan added.

During an open-air press conference on Wednesday Hovannisian reiterated that the set of conditions on which he would agree to recognize Sarkisian’s “de-facto presidency” were an integral proposal and that if any of the conditions were to be rejected, another one equivalent to it should be suggested, reported RFE/RL.

“This is the lowest threshold around which negotiations can be conducted,” said Hovannisian, insisting that he wasn’t seeking any sort of coalition with the Sarkisian government or bargaining with the authorities over posts, but was trying to find a ‘complex solution’ to the current conundrum.