Zhoghovurd: Pashinyan ‘planning fresh talks’ with extra-parliamentary opposition

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reportedly scheduled a new meeting with extraparliamentary parties for July 24 in what the paper claims is part of his plan to hold monthly negotiations with those political forces.

The main aim, however, is to exercise control over those parties in an attempt to calm them down and keep them away from street campaigns. Citing its “well-informed” sources, the paper says that no arrangement has been reached so far and no specific statement is being made as to the benefits or purposes of such meetings.

Many have reportedly thought that Pashinyan intends to “share" power with them and offer government posts to several political leaders. Yet, the paper says, no statements were made and no real promises were given. The informed sources also reportedly claimed that Pashinyan has called for cooperation, stopping short, however, of unveiling any format or “opening any bracket”. The kind of behaviour gives ground to serious hesitations, according to the paper, causing many party representatives to think over the expediency of attending future meetings.