RAMKAVAR-AZATAKAN PARTY OF ARMENIA INTENDS TO TAKE PART IN 2007 AND 2008 ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 23 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia
intends to take part both in the parliamentary elections of 2007 and
in the presidential elections of 2008. Haroutiun Arakelian, Chairman
of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia, declared this at the May
23 press conference. According to him, the issue about participation
in the parliamentary elections separately or in alliance with some
other political forces will be solved at the party’s special congress,
which, possibly, will be held in February next year.

H.Arakelian pointed to the party’s active work in the legislative
sphere.

According to him, the party has submitted a number provisions on
amendments to the Electoral Code to the National Assembly. He mentioned
that the main requirement of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia
is transition to the proportional system, as well as abolition of
deputy immunity: “People engaged in law-adopting activity and not
those guided by fear for thier immunity should work at the National
Assembly.” As for the recent events and, in particular, RA NA Speaker
Artur Baghdasarian’s leaving the post of the Parliament Speaker,
as well as the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party’s leaving the
coalition, Haroutiun Arakelian mentioned that OYP made a political
decision, but the absurd is that under the conditions of Armenia
a political decision can turn into a curious incident: “From time
to time the coalition parties made strict statements against one
another. I think the OYP’s leaving the coalition is logical.

I would congratulate Artur Baghdasarian in connection with the fact
that his party has been fully formed,” Haroutiun Arakelian declared. He
expressed bewilderment in connection with the ill-disposed reaction of
the opposition to OYP’s passing on to the camp of the opposition. “One
forms an impression that the opposition gives licences in this
issue.” As for accusations of National Unity leader Artashes Geghamian
and Artur Baghdasarian addressed to each other about the issue of
sources of financing of the political activity and, in particular,
about financial assistance of RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian,
the Chairman of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia declared:
“Maybe, the three of them should gather together and decide who gave
more money to another.”