PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER’S RESIGNATION TO BE DECIDED ON SEPTEMBER 16

Interfax
Sept 9 2008
Russia

Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosian has said
that the question about his possible resignation will be decided by
the Council of the Armenian Republic Party (RPA) on September 16.

"Such decisions must be approved by the party’s council. This is
written in the charter. There is no sense in commenting on anything
before that happens," he told journalists.

Torosian, who is also an RPA member, has recently denied media reports
about his possible resignation.

However, last week the ruling RPA party led by country’s president
Serzh Sargsian proposed Ovik Abramian as a candidate for National
Assembly Chairman.

"Having discussed whether it would be appropriate for Tigran Torosian
to continue to serve as Chairman of National Assembly [the party’s
executive body], resolved that his continuing to stay in this position
should not be deemed appropriate," the RPA said in a statement.

Last week the Armenian president sacked his chief of administration
O. Abramian after the latter was elected as an MP at the country’s
parliamentary by-elections on August 24.