ARF AND ORINATS YERKIR JOIN THE RULING COALITION

ARMENPRESS
March 21, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS: Leaders of four parties which have
the majority of seats in the parliament, signed today an agreement
to form a new broad-based government.

On behalf of the governing Republican Party it was signed by
president-elect, prime minister Serzh Sarkisian, Gagik Tsarukian
signed it on behalf of the Prosperous Armenia, Arthur Baghdasarian
on behalf of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party and Armen
Rustamian on behalf of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).

In a joint declaration the four parties said their main objectives
are to form an effective government that enjoys the support of the
overwhelming majority of Armenians, to deepen democratic reforms,
improve human rights protection mechanisms, to carry out sweeping
and brave reforms to drastically improve living conditions of the
population.

The agreement will be in force until the deadline of the current
parliament’s term, however, any party to the agreement is eligible
to renounce it.

Serzh Sarkisian described the agreement as ‘unprecedented’ saying
unlike past agreements that were signed to form coalition governments,
this political coalition’s major objectives are to carry serious,
larges-scale reforms and changes.

Armen Rustamian said the agreement was the product of protracted
negotiations. He said the new coalition will have to work hard to
diffuse post-election tensions.

Arthur Baghdasarian stressed the fact that these four parties won the
majority of votes both in the parliamentary and presidential elections.