PARLIAMENT ASKS ARF TO CONTINUE CHAIRING COMMITTEES ON DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS
945_4/29/2009_1
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Armenia’s leadership offered the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation on Wednesday an opportunity to continue to
serve in two major posts in parliament despite its departure from
the governing coalition.
ARF leaders strongly hinted at their likely acceptance of the offer,
which was publicly voiced by parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian.
In accordance with its March 2008 power-sharing agreement with
President Serzh Sarkisian, the party was given three ministerial and
several vice-ministerial portfolios in the government. ARF leaders
also continued to occupy one of the two posts of deputy speaker and
to chair two standing committees of the National Assembly.
The ARF pulled out of the four-party coalition on Monday in protest
against Sarkisian’s diplomatic overtures to Turkey. All of its members
holding positions in the executive and legislative branches tendered
their resignations as a result.
Speaking on behalf of the Sarkisian administration, Abrahamian urged
the ARF to allow Armen Rustamian and Artur Aghabekian to continue to
serve as chairmen of the parliament committees on foreign affairs and
defense respectively. He cited a 2008 legal amendment that entitles
opposition lawmakers to head some of the National Assembly panels.
"True, this change will apply to the next parliament," Abrahamian
said during a parliament session.
"Nevertheless, the political coalition is urging the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation faction to withdraw, while being in
opposition, Armen Rustamian’s and Artur Aghabekian’s resignations."
Vahan Hovannisian, the ARF’s parliamentary leader, thanked the ruling
coalition for the offer. "We will discuss the proposal and present
our response to the National Assembly chairman," he said.
The ARF’s governing Supreme Body in Armenia was expected to meet
and discuss the matter later on Wednesday. Rustamian, who is the
chairman of the body, indicated that he is in favor of accepting the
government offer.
"It would be good if we laid the foundation for a new
[government-opposition] relationship," he said.
Artashes Shahbazian, another ARF lawmaker, took a similar view, citing
the need to "form a new political culture" in the country. "It was
not a wrong proposal, especially given that we wished the coalition
success in our statement," he told RFE/RL.