NOR JAMANAKNER READY FOR “A SOFT BLOW”

Panorama.am
17:47 15/05/06

The leaders of Nor Jamanakner (New Times) Party chose “regular
provocation against the party” as a heading for a press conference
today. This heading was a reaction to “high” statements made by one
of the party unit heads, Arsen Amirkhanyan. Amirkhanyan told a news
conference on May 13 that he is going to leave the party and several
youth and women units of the party are going to break up.

4 members represented New Times today in a news conference trying to
assure that the break up of the party does not meet the reality. On the
contrary, the leadership has become more organized after provocative
speeches of Arsen Amirkhanyan.

According to A. Minasyan, vice chairman of New Times, Amirkhanyan
did not leave the party on his own but was dismissed. “25 days ago
Amirkhanyan was dismissed from his post,” he said. According to him,
Amirkhanyan took part in a fraud deal connected with sales and purchase
of a flat based on which he was dismissed.

He made public the letter from the police saying that materials are
collected against Arsen Amirkhanyan.

The speakers also said that they only dismissed him from the head of
Malatia Sebastia unit and not from the lines of the party. However,
he himself made the first step and left the party.