Public TV, Armenia
Feb. 23, 2008
TWO ARMENIAN RULING COALITION MPS DENY THEY SUPPORT OPPOSITION
Members of the Armenian parliament from the Prosperous Armenia
faction of the ruling government coalition, KaroKarapetyan and Tigran
Stepanyan, have issued a statement where they deny their support for
former President LevonTer-Petrosyan. Previously, Ter-Petrosyan’s
supporters said these two MPs had defected to Ter-Petrosyan’s
side.Ter-Petrosyan, who gained about 21 per cent of votes in the 19
February presidential election according to the CentralElectoral
Commission, has said the election was rigged. His supporters have
been rallying in protest against theelection results since 20
February. The following is the text of the report by state-owned
Armenian Public TV"Haylur" news bulletin broadcast at 1000 gmt on 23
February:
[Presenter] Karo Karapetyan and Tigran Stepanyan have expressed their
indignation about inappropriate speculationwith their names and
consider it necessary to present clarifications.
Quote [presenter reads], we officially announce that we are loyal to
the policy adopted by the Prosperous ArmeniaParty; we are standing by
the side of the chairman of our party [Gagik Tsarukyan] and will
never betray our principlesand goals. We are not those who change
camps, and attempts to involve us in various provocations are in
vain.
We just said that we are against fomenting instability in the
country, which can lead to unpredictable consequences, which the
forces standing on the platform [the rally of former President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan] decided to use as support expressed in their favour.
It is not honest.
The Prosperous Armenia Party supported the joint presidential
candidate [Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan] together withthe [ruling]
Republican Party of Armenia and we will not change our principles. As
members of the Prosperous ArmeniaParty, we officially announce that
our decision is precise and no-one has the right to make statements
on our behalf. Wehave not authorized anyone to do so.
The Prosperous Armenia Party is strong and stable and attempts to
shake it are doomed to failure, end quote.