VERBAL DUEL IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND SERZH SARKISYAN HAVE DESTROYED ORINATS YERKIR?

Regnum, Russia
May 22 2006

Speeches of opposition National Unity (NU) Party and parliamentary
faction Leader Artashes Geghamian and ex-Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan,
who announced his resignation on the same day, turned into a verbal
duel in raised voices.

In particular, speaking before the MPs, Artashes Geghamian stated
that “Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sarkisyan succeeded in destroying
Orinats Yerkir (OE) Party (Head – Artur Bagdassaryan) within several
days.” “Artur Bagdassaryan says that atmosphere of fear has developed
in the country, may be the atmosphere hinders him in revealing true
information that exactly Kocharyan and Sarkisyan have forced him to
reject speaker’s post; otherwise, why he does not call for a vote of
confidence?” he stressed.

Artur Bagdassaryan, who had returned into the session hall at the
moment, sharply retorted that nobody led the OYe out of the ruling
coalition. “We have decided it by ourselves. Much is said in the
hall about President Kocharyan. Yes, we state that we supported his
candidature during first and second rounds of presidential elections
in 2003 because such political figures appeared, who suddenly stopped
to be opposition in the second round (OYe did not support opposition
candidate Stepan Demirchyan in second round of 2003 presidential
elections – REGNUM). Also, very much was said about Serzh Sarkisyan,
but he has been illegally financing you. You fulfill order, why you
were absent when we were speaking about privatization and other vital
important questions?” Artur Bagdassaryan asked himself.

In his turn, Artashes Geghamian proposed Bagdassaryan to take Serzh
Sarkisyan into court as a briber, and Bagdassaryan as bribe-taker.

Effusive sorting out of the parties’ relationship continued some time
else. After that the parties agreed to continue “the duel” on air of
one of Armenian TV-channels.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress