ARMEN ASHOTIAN ASSURES THERE ARE NO CRIMINALS IN HIS REPUBLICAN PARTY

Armenpress
Sept 13 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The youngest member of the Armenian
parliament from the Republican Party of prime minister Andranik
Margarian argued today the opposition has no right to criticize the
government and its policy and also pro-government forces’ ideologies
unless it is able to present an alternative development program,
alternative ideologies and ideas.

Armen Ashotian from the Republican Party, was speculating during
a news conference that ‘if the current government is so bad, as it
is portrayed by the opposition, why then the people do not give the
opposition a much more greater support."

Ashotian downplayed the opposition’s allegations that criminal
elements are increasingly playing a bigger role in Armenia’s politics
and economy, saying criminal elements exist in Armenia as elsewhere,
but added, "I can assure anyone that there are no such elements in
the Republican Party or in the ruling coalition".