YEREVAN. June 29 (Interfax) - Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has called on people protesting against electricity price hikes to leave Baghramian Avenue in the center of Yerevan and tackle all existing problems through joint work.
"In a few days' time, I would like to invite some of you to talk. I hope that this meeting will become a reality. There are lots of things we should do, and we should complete this difficult process together. Stop paralyzing the city center. It is time to switch to calm activities. Leave Baghramian Avenue and help us at the stage of decision-making," Sargsyan said at a meeting with officials in charge of the country's energy policy on Saturday.
"I appeal to our young people, who have raised their voice of protest. My dear ones, don't be afraid of taking on new responsibility and becoming participants in a real process to formulate steps," the president said.
It is necessary to tackle existing problems, but "no one should step over the line," he said.
"The police are able to resolve any problem, but it is not our goal," the president said.
The path toward democracy and the establishment of civil society has been difficult, "but our country has no alternative," Sargsyan said.
"We should move along this path jointly. Otherwise, we will lose our future. Law enforcement agencies have been and will remain stern and ruthless toward people and forces who are ready to provoke the situation for the sake of their own momentary interests," the president said.
The people protesting in the center of Yerevan are "the spirit, will and idea of peaceful assemblies," he said.
"In the past few days, the demonstrators and police have managed to form an atmosphere of far greater trust than in the past few decades. Over the past week, Armenia has become a large and effective training center, a university, where policemen and citizens, journalists and parliamentarians, the intelligentsia and foreigners have taught and have learnt, have listened to each other. No one should think that antagonistic sides have emerged in our country because of the problem of the increase in electricity prices. It is ridiculous and dangerous," Sargsyan said.