Aravot, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

EITHER POLICY OR BENEVOLENCE

The RA laws insist in this alternative, as the benevolence
mustn’t pursue political purposes.

Whether the `Prosperous Armenia’, RPA and Democratic Party infringe
the RA legislation when one of them dispenses potatoes in RA regions,
another supplies with laboratory equipment and the other dispenses TV
sets. In answer to our question whether the parties have right to
carry out benevolent activities, chief of NA state-juridical
commission Rafik Petrosian said: «According to the law about parties
the parties aren’t considered benevolent organizations. These are
political organizations. According to the law about benevolence, the
benevolent organizations mustn’t connect their benevolent activities
with political issues». Factually, Mr. Petrosian stated that the
activities of «Prosperous Armenia», RPA and Democratic Party were
illegal. But as Rafik Petrosian himself is a RPA member he tried to
justify such activities. «It is asked today whether PA steps can be
observed as electoral bribes. I think they can’t, as the
pre-electoral campaign hasn’t launched yet. If that part has carried
out such activities why it shouldn’t it continue when it is useful
for the population.’

Anyway the benevolent activities of the parties aren’t the
infringement of the law only in pre-electoral period. If PA, RPA and
Democratic Party want to carry out charitable activities they must
correspond their activities with the law «About Benevolence», and
according to the 11th article of that law benevolent organizations
are formed by public unions, foundations and other ways determined by
law. Party isn’t one of those ways. According to the same article the
«name of benevolent organization must include the «benevolent» word».

And the law «About Parties» forbids the participation of benevolent
organizations in political activities. According to the 25th article
of that law, the parties aren’t allowed to get contribution by
benevolent organizations and the 18 th forbids making pre-electoral
propaganda to benevolent organization.

In short, there is a certain difference between political and
benevolent activities.

Aram Sargsian, the parliamentarian of `Justice’ faction, DPA leader,
in answer to our question whether he agrees that those activities
aren’t electoral bribes as they aren’t realized in pre-electoral
period, said: `No, I don’t agree, I even declared in the NA that CEC
must be led by the articles of the law about parties, according to
which the parties have no right to carry out economic activities. Now
let’s imagine that a party by its membership fees provide not only
its everyday activities but has even accumulated a certain amount of
money.

We should mention first of all what party members of this poor
country have become so prosperous. And if there are personal
resources, they have no connection with the party. Benevolence made
by the parties opposes to the laws «About parties» and «About
Benevolence».

Anna Israelian