“ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY WITHDRAWS FROM RULING COALITION OF ARMENIA

Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Thursday, 10:30 PM, “Orinats Yerkir”
Party Board resolved to withdraw from the country’s ruling political
coalition.

In addition, the “OY” Board adopted a decision on resignation of “OY”
Leader, Parliamentary Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan from his post.

Arthur Baghdasaryan intends to made public the party’s decision today
at 2:00 PM. Sources close to the party report that approximately an
hour before the party meeting yesterday, A. Baghdasaryan met with
President Robert Kocharyan and then convened immediate meeting of
the party Board.

To recap, 10 big businessman-members of the “OY” parliamentary faction
have recently left the party. The party representatives connected the
developments around the party with a certain pressure by the ruling
circles that are dissatisfied with the recent harsh statements by
Arthur Baghdasaryan as well as with his criticism of the privatization
program 2001-2003. At present the most probable nominees to the
post of the parliamentary speaker are considered Karen Karapetyan,
the head of deputy group “People’s Deputy,” Vahan Hovhannissyan, Vice
Speaker a member of ARFD Bureau, Tigran Torosyan, Vice Speaker, Vice
Chairman of RPA. To note, the ruling coalition of Armenia comprises
the Republican Party of Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and “OY.” It
was formed immediately after the parliamentary election in 2003.