Armenian authorities ready for dialogue with opposition

The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Ovik Abramyan, has welcomed a
dialogue with opposition, News Armenia reports.

The leader of the Armenian National Congress opposition party, the
first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, said on Tuesday that he
was ready for a dialogue with the authorities. He demanded the release
of everyone involved in the March 1 case, the amnesty announced on May
26, the right to protest on Freedom Square and tthe establishment of
an independent commission to investigate the deaths of citizens on
March 1, 2008.

Ter-Petrosyan lost to Serzh Sargsyan in the presidential polls on
February 19, 2008. A protest was organized in Yerevan city center on
February 20, 2008. Disorders started on March 1-2, 2008. 10 people
died and over 200 were injured.

Six people, including ex-MP Sasun Michaelyan and the editor-in-chief
of the Aykakan Zhamanak newspaper, Nikol Pashinyan, have been kept in
detention. Four have been released. Sarkis Atspanyan and Shmavon
Galstyan are still being detained.

Commenting on the proposals of early parliamentary and presidential
polls, Abramyan said that they are ready to discuss reasonable
proposals.

The authorities refused to call early elections until recently.