EVEN IF THERE IS A RULING COALITION IN ARMENIA, IT WILL BE FORMAL, HEAD OF RPA FACTION SAYS

arminfo
2007-05-17 13:51:00

There are no preconditions for aggravation of the post- election
situation in Armenia. If there were such, the opposition would
attract more people to its May 13 rally, Galust Sahakyan, head of
RPA parliamentary faction, said at a press conference, Thursday.

The small number of opposition protest rallies showed that the
people are satisfied with the election result, he said. Speaking
of RPA’s plans, he said the party is ready to cooperate with all
the political forces solidary with it, including the forces that
failed to overcome the 5% threshold to the parliament but approached
it. "Despite constituting absolute majority in the parliament,
RPA is against monopolization of the political field. Thus, it
is ready to cooperate with other forces, and not necessarily in a
bloc or coalition. Even if a coalition is formed, it is likely to be
formal. If political forces refuse to cooperate with us, we are ready
to assume a full responsibility for the country’s future," G. Sahakyan
said. He added that RPA could gain much more votes. As regards the
presidential election, he said that the candidate representing RPA
will gain the necessary 51% of votes. Commenting on rumors about his
appointment to the post of the minister of culture and youth affairs,
Galust Sahakyan said: "I am a cultivated man, but this post is not
for me." Regarding Prosperous Armenia party, G. Sahakyan said that
the party will have a serious role in the parliament.

Asked to comment on the hunger strike by Israel Hakobkokhyan,
the candidate for parliament in the 11th electoral district and
the sit-down strike by Nikol Pashinyan, one of the "Impeachment"
bloc leaders, against the voting results, Galust Sahakyan said:
"There are no reasons for such actions of protest as the violations
during the election were insignificant." He expressed hope that the
opposition in Armenia will become more constructive.