Armenpress

DEFENSE MINISTER LASHES OUT AT PARTY FELLOW FOR LACK
OF DISCIPLINE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: "A political
party is not a pack of wolves and is not obliged to
hasten and defend a party member on every occasion,’
Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian retaliated
to a question why the governing board of his
Republican Party urged its members not to defend a
party member who is contesting the post of a Yerevan
district prefect in elections scheduled for October
28.
The governing board of the party by a vote of 61
against 3 decided yesterday not to defend Arman
Sahakian, a party member. The board also called on its
members warning they would be subjected to
disciplinary punishment if defy the decision. Arman
Sahakian, a former deputy Yerevan mayor, is the son of
Galust Sahakian, who is head of the Republican Party’s
parliament faction.
Sarkisian, who joined the party recently and was
elected chairman of its governing board, argued today
that every party member must understand that the party
has its own, independent interests, there are party
regulations and discipline. ‘If he (Arman Sahakian)
decided all alone without consulting his party, even
ignoring his party, to run for the post why should the
party defend him?," Sarkisian said adding he had no
intention at all now to defend Sahakian.
The influential defense minister also shrugged off
persistent rumors accusing nature protection minister
Vartan Ayvazian of demanding a $ 3 million bribe from
a US-based mining company, describing these rumors ‘
irresponsible." Sarkisian argued later it may emerge
that these accusations were simply a slander.
Sarkisian was also asked about the Prosperous
Armenia party of Gagik Tsarukian, seen as the main
rival of the Republican party in 2007 parliamentary
elections, but the minister shrugged off such
speculations saying only the outcome of polls can show
the real potential of any party.