COALITION PARTNERS COMMENT UPON NA SPEAKER’S STATEMENT

Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Being a member of the Council of Europe,
Armenia undertook obligations addressed to the European integration,
but speaking about observing the end of the Eurointegration already as
a membership to the NATO is out of the political agenda. Responding
journalists’ questions, Vahan Hovhannisian, the RA NA Deputy
Speaker, ARF Bureau political representative responded NA Speaker
Artur Baghdasarian’s speech made on May 2 at the Parliament in this
way. The latter, particularly, re-affirming his statement made in
foreign press, mentioned from the NA tribune, that he expressed the
position of the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party headed by him
and his personal one, as they are for Eurointegration of Armenia and
deepening relations with the NATO and see future of the country in the
EU. The NA Speaker also expressed an opinion that there “are no great
differences” among his and other coalition forces’ positions in this
issue. In V.Hovhannisian’s opinion, before making public statements
about prospects of the foreign policy of Armenia, A.Baghdasarian must
first discuss it at the Security Council a member of which he is,
as just this body decides prospects of security of the country. As
for the final goal of Armenia concerning European integration, it has
not been worked out completely yet, but political forces have their
viewpoints concerning it. Galust Sahakian, the “RPA” faction head
advised journalists not to ascribe Artur Baghdasarian’s statements to
the coalition. According to him, it is not a state official viewpoint,
and the NA tribune must not be used for private statements of a party.