RAFFI HOVANNISIAN FINALLY REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN PACE AND NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 9, 2009

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Zharangutiun (Heritage) party
founding leader Raffi Hovannisian finally refused to take part in
PACE proceedings. Armen Martirosian, the leader of the RA National
Assembly Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, reported at the April 9
press conference. According to him, the party proposed the NA Speaker
including faction member Zaruhi Postanjian in PACE Armenian delegation
instead of R. Hovannisian and faction Secretary Stepan Safarian in
NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation.

Zharangutiun Spokesperson Hovsep Khurshudian, in his turn, said that
with his decision R. Hovannisian carries out his promise given to
society as early as in 2008 June, according to which unless Armenia
and Europe are loyal to the democratic values they adopted he will
stop cooperating with those European structures.

A. Martirosian added that the public-political situation in Armenia
is inadmissible for Zharangutiun. In his words, it is especially
inadmissible that even after amending Articles 225 and 300 of RA
Criminal Code political prisoners remain imprisoned.

Touching upon R. Hovannisian’s plans for the future, M. Martirosian
refuted the news spread by some media, according to which
R. Hovannisian is going to leave big politics. According to him,
R. Hovannisian being the leader of the only NA opposition force,
having a high rating just cannot but be engaged in active politics.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress