KOCHARIAN DISAPPROVES DEBATES ON DEPRECIATED SOVIET-ERA BANK ACCOUNTS

ArmenPress
Dec 20 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian,
who ordered to convene an extraordinary parliament session to open
debates on a motion forced by an independent parliament member Hmayak
Hovhanesian, calling for return of devalued Soviet-era bank-accounts,
disapproved the petition, signed by half of lawmakers, saying he was
against the motion. “I never gave such a promise to voters during
my election campaign,” the president told reporters when traveling
across the north-eastern of Lori on weekend.

The president argued that pushing the bill, designed by Orinats Yerkir
party of parliament chairman Arthur Baghdasarian, may disrupt debates
on the 2005 draft budget, which he said is of the focal importance
now. “Opening debates on the return of depreciated Soviet-time bank
accounts may jeopardize the government’s decision to significantly
raise the wages of a set of low-paid workers-doctors, teachers,
army officers and others… My impression is that that motion was
forwarded as a well-though scheme the ultimate goal of which is to
divert the governing coalition from seeking solutions to the most
pressing problems,” he said.

Kocharian expressed hope that the majority of lawmakers would display
what he called “prudence” to make the correct decision, adding
also that he will order creation of a presidential commission late
February next year, in addition to the one set up by the parliament,
to examine the issue.

According to Kocharian, the motion is apparently directed against
parliament chairman Arthur Baghdasarian and his party members.

However, the parliament debates on the motion did not take place today
after the majority of lawmakers boycotted the sitting. Incidentally,
members of the opposition Ardarutyun alliance, who have been boycotting
parliament work for nearly a year, turned in the parliament hall,
but that was not enough to call the extraordinary session.