Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN1147
2004-05-14 12:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

DIALOGUE CONTINUES BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND

Tags:  PGOV PREL 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 001147 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM
SUBJECT: DIALOGUE CONTINUES BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND
COALITION


UNCLAS YEREVAN 001147

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM
SUBJECT: DIALOGUE CONTINUES BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND
COALITION



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

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


2. (SBU) Negotiations between Armenia's governing
coalition and its political opponents have brought a
temporary lull to their month-long political
confrontation. Talks between leaders of the three pro-
Kocharian parties that make up coalition government and
the Justice bloc together with the National Unity Party
(NUP) resumed on May 6 and will continue through May 14
at the National Assembly. Although thus far the has
dialogue yielded no agreement to compromise, both sides
are keen to demonstrate that they are heeding the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
recommendation urging the government and the opposition
to embark on a "dialogue without precondition." The
sides, nevertheless, agreed to upgrade the status of
their ongoing "consultations" to "negotiations," and to
finalize their agenda. Both the president and prime
minister welcomed the resumption of negotiations and
but noted they would not participate in the talks
personally. End Summary.

--------------
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK
--------------


3. (SBU) Talks between Armenia's governing coalition
and leaders of the Justice bloc and NUP began on May 6
and continued throughout the week. Negotiations took
place against the backdrop of a 10-day time-out imposed
by the opposition on anti-Kocharian rallies in order to
give government time to ease its crackdown on protest
participants and opposition supporters. On May 12 the
three political parties represented in the cabinet
suggested negotiations to be held over four main issues
including amendments to the constitution and electoral
code, joint anti-corruption efforts and the
implementation of the recent resolution on Armenia of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE).


4. (SBU) The coalition also agreed to include the
opposition's issue on "ways to overcome political
crisis in Armenia resulting from 2003 elections" on the
agenda if the word "crisis" were replaced by
"situation." The official "negotiations" between the
two sides began May 13 but were cut off almost
immediately. Both sides remain keen to show that they
are following the recommendations for Armenia made by
PACE on April 28 that urges the government and
opposition to embark on a "dialogue without
preconditions." Both president Kocharian and Prime
Minister Margarian endorsed a continuation of dialogue
aimed at defusing political tension, but added that
they would not participate personally in such talks.
(Note: According to reliable press reports, however,
Margarian met privately with opposition leader and
former PM Aram Sargsyan early in the week. End Note.)

--------------
COMMENT: STILL SOME WAY TO GO
--------------


5. (SBU) The opposition has already announced they
would resume their rallies in Yerevan on May 14 (after
a regional rally in Vanatzor fizzled earlier in the
week with a turnout of no more than 200) and that they
will continue to push for Kocharian's resignation
regardless of the outcome of the talks, making it
unlikely that the current dialogue will yield any
immediate agreements. With the two rival camps
posturing for the press and remaining divided on the
opposition's key issue, Kocharian's legitimacy, we
expect to see only modest movement on some of the other
outstanding issues over the next several weeks.
ORDWAY