YEREVAN. - April 28 will either become a day inaugurating a dialogue or a day of a final rupture of relations between the authorities and society in Armenia, Armenia’s first president, and leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan, stated at the ANC rally on Friday.  On April 28 the Armenian opposition has scheduled its next rally.

In his speech, the ANC leader outlined the three main demands. Without prior satisfaction of those demands Armenia’s political life remains “poisoned”, and any dialogue with the authorities “is out of the question,” Ter-Petrosyan believes. Armenian opposition demands the release of political prisoners, restoring the people’s constitutional right to hold rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan and investigation of the post-election events on March 1, 2008. If the demands are not satisfied, the ANC will consider any chances of dialogue exhausted and have to drastically change its strategy.

“We are not yet inclined to talks with the authorities in terms of ultimatums, but people’s patience is not infinite,” said Ter-Petrosyan. “April 28 will either inaugurate a dialogue or will become a day of a final rupture of relations between the authorities and society.”

He also dwelt on mechanisms for satisfying the opposition’s demands. Ter-Petrosyan reminded that the president is entitled to pardon prisoners. He cited the example of Cuba, where about 60 prisoners have recently been pardoned.

"It is clear that in this situation the most convenient way to address the issue of political prisoners in Armenia is the application of this simple mechanism in the president’s power, which will obviously have a positive impact on easing the political tension,” Ter-Petrosyan added. 

As to the people’s constitutional right to hold rallies in Liberty Square in Yerevan, the ANC leader said that in recent years, the Yerevan city hall has repeatedly illegally denied the opposition the right to hold rallies on Liberty Square. Many decisions were appealed, but remained in force. Sooner or later, both the mayors and the judges that made the decisions will be brought to justice, Ter-Petrosyan believes. The ANC leader reminded the participants of the value of Liberty Square as a cradle of Armenian democracy.

“The authorities not only continue cynical violations of law, but, according to backstage talks, intend to include Liberty Square to the list of places where any political events are prohibited,” he said. “And no power, no matter how omnipotent it will be, can deprive the people of this symbol. This is tantamount to prohibiting the British from holding rallies in Trafalgar Square or the French from meeting in the Place de la Bastille and Place de la Concorde.”

Regarding the investigation of the March 1, 2008, events, the ANC leader stressed the importance of setting up an independent international commission or, at least, a fact-finding group involving international experts.

“March 1 is a tragedy that, like the October 27 crime [when terrorists attacked the Armenian parliament], will not be erased from the people’s memory even in a hundred years. Their organizers, even if they avoid criminal responsibility, will never avoid historical responsibility,” Ter-Petrosyan said.

Referring to the previous rally, he recalled the statement that the oppositional ANC will act “within the Constitution and laws, trying to prevent political and social shocks” not because it rejects revolutionary methods of struggle, but “because of the risk of a new war by Azerbaijan.”

“If some people are skeptical, I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will never lose a chance to take advantage of any serious confusion in Armenia,” the ANC leader said.