EN
26 February 2003 - 14:16 AMT

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES NOT TO CONNIVE AT VIOLENCE DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

One of the most alarming topics today is the aggressiveness of the opposition. Press secretary of the incumbent president Vahe Gabrielian told the Public Television Company of Armenia. “In spite of the fact that we displayed reasonableness in the course of the electoral campaign, the opposing party showed aggressiveness, which led to an atmosphere of split of the society,” – he said. The aggressive statements “disseminate hostility and hatred” among the society, which finally contributes to violence, the press secretary emphasized. “One should not admit a situation when people are afraid to open their shops fearing of violence by the demonstrators and the participants of processions,” – V.Gabrielian noted. In his words, the authorities of Armenia will not connive at manifestations of violence during the period of the presidential elections. All disturbers of the public order will be punished, as well as actions threatening the state security, the Armenian leader’s spokesman stated. Today in Yerevan the opposition intends to hold the next meeting demanding revision of the returns of the first round of the presidential elections.