VARTAN OSKANIAN RENOUNCES HIS PARLIAMENTARY SEAT

YEREVAN, March 4. / ARKA /.Mikael Melkumyan, an MP from the Prosperous
Armenia Party, has confirmed today rumors that another member of the
party, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, has filed a formal
application to the leadership of the National Assembly renouncing
his parliamentary seat.

Melkumyan said to the best of his knowledge Oskanian is going only
to renounce his parliamentary seat and is not going to quit the
party ranks.

“I think Oskanian’s decision suggests he wants to rethink the nature
of his future activities,” Melkumyan said.

Oskanian’s decision was preceded by defection of seven lawmakers from
the Prosperous Armenia.

The party had the second largest parliamentary faction comprising
36 members before President Serzh Sargsyan lashed out at Prosperous
Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan on January 12.

President Sargsyan signed a decree expelling Gagik Tsarukyan from the
National Security Council and also ordered authorities to investigate
Tsarukyan, one of Armenia’s richest men, for alleged tax-dodging and
failure to attend parliament sessions.

Tsarukyan, in turn, accused Sargsyan of trying to punish him over
his refusal to back a constitutional reform that would allow Sargsyan
to remain Armenia’s leader beyond 2018 when his current presidential
term ends. -0-