2009 AS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SEE IT
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
06.01.2009 17:37

At the beginning of every year everyone hopes that the new year
is going to be better than the previous one. This year is not an
exception. In 2008 many negative events took place in the world in
general and Armenia, in particular. There are predictions that some
events of the past year will develop in 2009.

According to Deputies of the National Assembly, 2008 has created
certain bases for the developments expected in 2009. Thus, last
year people were saying that former Speaker of the National Assembly
Tigran Torosyan was going to shape a new political force that would
play an essential role in the domestic political life. "Radiolur"
tried to find out the truth personally from Tigran Torosyan.

"All the rumors were ungrounded. Unfortunately, the political life
in Armenia is very simple. There are people who try to solve some
issues with primitive rumors, leaving aside the problems that really
need to be solved.

There have been many rumors, but if I decide to choose another way
of political activity, I will let the public know. There can be no
secret politics, moreover, there can be no secret political party,"
Tigran Torosyan said.

Without any predictions one can state that in line with the commitments
before the Council of Europe and the constitutional reforms, this
year the ci tizens of Yerevan will for the first time elect the
Mayor. This and many other events will activate the political life
in the country, Press Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia,
MP Edward Sharmazanov is assured.

"2009 is a serious year. It’s going to be a hard year for all of us.

It will be an active political year: on ne hand, the negotiations on
Nagorno Karabakh will continue on the foreign political front. Besides,
I hope that the Armenian-Turkish relations will enter a new phase,
especially considering that the Armenian side has taken the first step,
and the ball is now on the Turkish side. Let’s not forget, either, that
President Gul has already taken the response step by inviting President
Sargsyan to watch the Turkey-Armenia qualifier in October 2009."

President of the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan also
predicts a serious year.

"I think that in 2009 we have really serious issues to solve and I’m
confident that we will succeed in solving those problems in case the
authorities of our country, the political forces are united. That is
my objective. In 2009 we should work together to solve all the issues
we face."

The dialogue between the authorities and the opposition should finally
take place this year, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party Aram
Safaryan says. However, he considers that the main events will be
connected with the wor ld crisis.

"2009 is going to be a hard year. The consequences of the crisis may
become more tangible than in 2008, and that is why I expect that
the government will avoid tax policy that will make the small and
medium-sized businesses face additional hardships," Aram Safaryan says.