In the opinion of Chairman of the Union of Political Scientists Hmayak Hovhannisian, it is useless for the Armenian National Congress (ANC) to link its political prospects with the viewpoint that Serzh Sargsyan may need ANC as a factor for neutralizing Robert Kocharian’s influence. At the September 28 meeting with reporters, H. Hovhannisian exp that in this case ANC will find itself in the same position as those Russian leaders who hoped that Putin-Medvedev controversy might arise”. Discussing this viewpoint, member of the NA “Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)” faction Hovhannes Sahakian said that the authorities have always been ready to cooperate and carry on a dialog. In response to the question about the effect that Putin’s nomination for the Presidency will have on Armenia’s political field, he noted that in Armenia it is the people who make their choice. Reminding about Kocharian’s statement that in the event of a desire to return to active politics, he will announce it himself, H. Sahakian said: “In this case forecasts will be a thankless task”. Speaking about ANC-government dialog, H. Hovhannisian called it a process of transactions not enjoying the people’s confidence. As regards ANC coordinator Levon Zurabian’s statement that it is time for the people to join the game, he said: “The people is not a dog tied to someone’s foot to be told “Stop that!” at one moment and “Attack!” at another”. According to Hmayak Hovhannisian, ANC entered into the dialog with some miscalculations, as a result of which it suffered moral losses as well. ‘The authorities began the dialog at the time when they needed it,” he said, adding the authorities have derived maximum benefit from the dialog. RPA deputy H. Sahakian said that the dialog is not an end in itself and that its purpose is to ensure stability in the country. “Unfortunately, it stopped for an absurd reason,” he noted.

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