MAIN REASON FOR ARF’S NOT JOINING COALITION IS "PROBLEM OF RETAINING INDEPENDENT POLITICAL TACTICS"

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 6 press conference,
representative of the ARF Armenian Supreme Body Armen Rustamian
confirmed the fact that after almost a month of negotiations the ARF
has signed an agreement on cooperation with the coalition formed from
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and "Prosperous Armenia" party
(PAP). According to A. Rustamian, this agreement represents a new
format in Armenia’s internal political field and bears evidence of a
"new political culture which is a praiseworthy fact in itself." The
speaker considered it to be "extraordinary" that under the agreement,
not being part of the coalition, they at the same time will form part
of the government.

A. Rustamian stated that the main reason for the ARF’s not being
included in the coalitiin is "the problem of retaining their
independent political tactics." In his words, the subject of
presidential elections was also discussed during negotiations of ARF
and coalition forces. "We couldn’t adjust our position to problems that
arose in the given situation," A. Rustamian explained. According to
him, over the past year ARF members have repeatedly told reporters that
they will not support the candidature of prime minister Serge Sargsian
at the 2008 presidential elections. Instead, as A. Rustamian said,
they will propose their own candidate, whose name will be announced
after the sitting of the ARF Supreme Body’s Supreme Assembly.

A. Rustamian regarded as rhetorical the question asked by a reporter:
"Although the ARF did not support S. Sargsian’s candidature, it will
be represented in the goverment, so for what merits will the ARF
receive posts?" He said the ARF has many merits but his modesty does
not allow him to enumerate them.