ARMEN ASHOTIAN: ARFD TRIES TO CLEAN ITSELF OF PRO-GOVERNMENTAL PARTY’S IMAGE BEFORE 2012 ELECTIONS
NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 27, 2009
YEREVAN
ARFD tries to come out of the ruling coalition for the purpose of
cleaning itself of pro-governmental party’s image before the 2012
elections. Armen Ashotian, a member of the RA National Assembly
RPA faction, expressed such an opinion at the March 27 press
conference. However, in his opinion, for ARFD it will be very difficult
to clean itself of pro-governmental party’s image, as Dashnaktsutiun
has been a non-formal power since 1991. "It is difficult to say how
well they will manage to return their former image among society’s
opposition sector within three years," he said.
According to A. Ashotian, the current development of Armenian-Turkish
relations is a good occasion for Dashnaktsutiun for coming out of
power on the pretext of national ideology. At the same time he said
that ARFD’s referring to change of Armenia’s foreign policy does not
correspond to reality. According to the RPA deputy, it is rather an
occasion than a deep cause of principle.
According to A. Ashotian’s prediction, ARFD’s appearing in the
opposition sphere will create a new situation in the home political
sphere in the respect of quality. According to him, ARFD becoming
an opposition will deprive Armenian National Congress of monopoly
position in that sphere, as well as will deprive the Zharangutiun
party of the unique status of being the only parliamentary opposition.