Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN1088
2004-05-05 13:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HALTS PROTESTS, AWAITS

Tags:  PHUM PGOV AM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001088 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HALTS PROTESTS, AWAITS
GOAM RESPONSE TO PACE


UNCLAS YEREVAN 001088

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HALTS PROTESTS, AWAITS
GOAM RESPONSE TO PACE



1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


2. (SBU) The Armenian opposition announced a 10-day
suspension in its protests against the presidency of
Robert Kocharian to give the government time to comply
with PACE Resolution 1374. Opposition leaders
announced the suspension to a crowd of nearly 5,000
during a protest in central Yerevan, May 4. After the
rally, protesters marched by the Armenian National
Security Service and police headquarters to protest the
government practice of using "administrative detention"
against opposition supporters. The protest ended
peacefully, but Post has unconfirmed reports of
additional detentions. End Summary.

--------------
REACTION TO PACE
--------------


3. (SBU) In their comments to the crowd, the leaders of
the Justice Alliance and the National Unity Party (AMK)
frequently referred to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution of last week,
which denounced the GOAM crackdown on opposition
activities. The speakers called on the GOAM to comply
with the resolution, specifically by releasing those in
administrative detention and by ensuring freedom of
assembly and expression. Many of the more active
protesters carried European Union flags. Albert
Bazheyan of the Justice Alliance claimed "those [EU]
demands are also the opposition demands." The
opposition announced the 10-day suspension of protests
in order to give the government time to comply with the
PACE resolution.

--------------
MARCH AND REACTION
--------------


4. (SBU) After the 90-minute rally, many of the
demonstrators marched past the National Security
Service and the central police station. Post has no
reports of violence during the march. Protesters had
been warned by the GOAM not to march down Baghramian
Avenue toward the National Assembly and the
Presidential Palace. The government stationed water
cannons, troops and police along Baghramian, but the
protesters followed their previously announced route
past law enforcement agencies


5. (SBU) Opposition parties have not yet confirmed
reports of 14 additional administrative detentions
after the rally. The number detained, if accurate, is
significantly smaller than the thirty to forty people
detained after each of last month's rallies.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) The government made no official comment on the
opposition's demands, but instead has emphasized that
the PACE resolution did not endorse a presidential
referendum. Since the opposition and GOAM have few
points of contact to facilitate negotiation and because
both sides claim victory in PACE Resolution 1374, Post
sees little chance for compromise in the short term and
as yet has seen no indication that the GOAM has changed
its position since the PACE resolution.
ORDWAY