SPEAKER OF ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENT RESIGNS

Agence France Presse — English
May 22, 2006 Monday

The speaker of Armenia’s parliament resigned Monday, citing differences
within the ruling coalition over whether the nation should align
itself more with the European Union or Russia.

Artur Bagdassarian’s resignation follows the decision of his Rule of
Law Party to quit the government.

“I renounce my position as speaker of the National Assembly,” he
told the parliament, going on to thank the deputies of all parties
for work accomplished during the three years of his speakership.

Bagdassarian discussed the discord that prompted his party to leave
the coalition, formed with the Republican Party of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian after legislative elections in 2003.

“There are two paths that Armenia can follow,” he said. The country can
“be part of the union with Russia and Belarus and be on good terms
with Europe, or it can be part of the European Union and be on good
terms with Russia. Our party is for the second path,” he said.

Before fragmenting, his parliamentary group counted 21 members,
but 11 among them — mainly businessmen — quit the party.

The heads of two parliamentary committees also resigned Monday.