“Orinats Yerkir” Departure Invalidates Ruling Coalition MOU of 2003

BY “ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY’S LEAVING POLITICAL COALITION, ACTION OF
MEMORANDUM TO BE STOPPED AHEAD OF TIME

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to the June
11, 2003 memorandum signed by the political coalition, in the case of
not overcoming the principal disagreements among the sides of the
political coalition in the way of negotiation, each of parties may
inform other sides in written form about it leaving the coalition, at
the same time calling back all its officials envisaged by the
memorandum. Late on May 11, the Political Council of the “Orinats
Yerkir” party made a decision about its leaving the coalition and
concerning party Chairman Artur Baghdasarian’s resigning the NA
Speaker’s post. To recap, according to the memorandum, the OYK party
is given posts of the NA Speaker, Chairmen of the NA two standing
committees, the Committee for Social, Health Care and Nature
Protection Issues and the Committee for Defence, National Security and
Internal Affairs, as well as the posts of three ministers, the Urban
Development, Education and Science, Culture and Youth Issues. It was
also mentioned that deadlines for the political coalition’s activity
and action of the memorandum are in force till the next parliamentary
elections. It was fixed at the same time, that it may be stopped
ahead of time in the case of leaving one of the coalition sides as
well as by the agreement reached among all sides of the coalition.