10 April 2004, 15:47
Opposition promise daily meetings in Yerevan
The Armenian opposition held a meeting on April 9. Among the slogans were "Robert Kocharian, leave," "The illegitimate president must leave." The meeting took place on Freedom Square. Albert Bazeian, chairman of the Republic party and deputy of the National Assembly, declared that in spite of all violence and lawlessness, the authorities would not succeed in intimidating the people who had started fighting for the restoration of constitutional order. Aram Sargsian, a member of the political council of the Republic party and former prime minister, said in his speech the people had already gained victory over the illegal authorities since such a great number of people present at the meeting (according to different estimates, from 25 to 50 thousand people took part in it) manifested their resoluteness. Aram Sargsian also said that from that day people would always stay on Freedom Square until the illegitimate authorities left. Ruben Tovmasian, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Armenian Communist Party, also gave a speech at the meeting. He declared that the Communist Party was ready to support the opposition's actions.
Meetings will be held at 6 p.m. every day, organizers of the action announced.
Editors note: See also the articles "National Unity will do its best to prevent riots on April 9, party's leader says", "Arrests of opposition activists in Armenia continue".
Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
