20:54,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Before the start of the regular session of the Artsakh National Assembly on May 18, Artsakh National Assembly Speaker Artur Tovmasyan made a statement addressed to the President of the Republic, in which he proposed to create a State Defense Committee and include Ruben Vardanyan and Samvel Babayan in it. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Artsakh, the statement reads as follows,

"Dear compatriots,

I would like to address with an appeal, advice and request to the President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan.

You know, I also said during the last rally that I participated in all the rallies to which I was invited.

Mr. President, I have never interfered in your affairs, and you in the affairs of the National Assembly. I proposed a model that is as follows: we need not an amorphous body, but a body that saved us in the 90s – the State Defense Committee. I proposed to the President of the country to include two people in this body – Ruben Vardanyan and Samvel Babayan. I don't know their opinion, maybe they won't agree.

Why? Don't ask.

Mr. President, if this model doesn't work, I might hurt someone for the first time.

Submit your resignation, Mr. President, or hold a referendum on confidence. If the people do not believe that you have been elected, then you will have to leave. However, this does not mean that in the event of your resignation, Artur Tovmasyan will act as president of the republic.

If it turns out that the people do not trust you, then I will also leave.”