YEREVAN -- A leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) scoffed at former President Levon Ter-Petrosian's call for the creation of a coalition of opposition parties, telling Ter-Petrosian that "it's very nice to say something that you know won't happen," RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
Addressing thousands of supporters in Yerevan on September 18, Ter-Petrosian said his Armenian National Congress (HAK) cannot topple President Serzh Sarkisian without the support of other major political groups and called for unity among the opposition.
Ter-Petrosian also offered not to run for president in the event that an election is called if Sarkisian is ousted.
Dashnaktsutyun leader Vahan Hovannisian said on September 22 in parliament that Ter-Petrosian looks "noble" after saying such a thing, and it makes him appear to be "the nation's papa."
Ever since the nationalist Dashnaktsutyun party was banned by Ter-Petrosian during his 1991-98 presidency, it has remained highly critical of the ex-president. Dashnaktsutyun left the ruling coalition in April.