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Armenian political party opts out of governing coalition
AP Worldstream; May 11, 2006
A leading liberal party decided Thursday to opt out of the governing
coalition in the Armenian parliament, one of its leaders said.
Orinats Yerkir (Country Ruled by Law) made the decision during a
session of its political council, Oganes Markarian, a lawmaker and a
member of the party's leadership, said in televised remarks.
The decision means that the party's leader, Artur Bagdasarian, will
have to resign as parliament speaker and two other senior party
members will have to give up their Cabinet posts.
Orinats Yerkir has been part of the governing coalition since 2003
when it teamed up with the Republican Party and Dashnak-Tsutyun. It
had 20 seats in the 131-seat parliament.
Markarian didn't explain the motives behind the party's decision, but
some attributed it to a recent political scandal triggered by
Bagdasarian's remarks.
Bagdasarian reportedly told a German newspaper last month that
Armenia's future lies with the European Union and NATO, and that
Russia should not block its Westward path _ a statement that should
have vexed Russia, which has a military base in Armenia.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian quickly disavowed the speaker's
statement, saying that the Caucasus nation doesn't have plans to join
NATO.
Amid the scandal, seven lawmakers from Orinats Yerkir resigned from
the party.
AP Worldstream; May 11, 2006
A leading liberal party decided Thursday to opt out of the governing
coalition in the Armenian parliament, one of its leaders said.
Orinats Yerkir (Country Ruled by Law) made the decision during a
session of its political council, Oganes Markarian, a lawmaker and a
member of the party's leadership, said in televised remarks.
The decision means that the party's leader, Artur Bagdasarian, will
have to resign as parliament speaker and two other senior party
members will have to give up their Cabinet posts.
Orinats Yerkir has been part of the governing coalition since 2003
when it teamed up with the Republican Party and Dashnak-Tsutyun. It
had 20 seats in the 131-seat parliament.
Markarian didn't explain the motives behind the party's decision, but
some attributed it to a recent political scandal triggered by
Bagdasarian's remarks.
Bagdasarian reportedly told a German newspaper last month that
Armenia's future lies with the European Union and NATO, and that
Russia should not block its Westward path _ a statement that should
have vexed Russia, which has a military base in Armenia.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian quickly disavowed the speaker's
statement, saying that the Caucasus nation doesn't have plans to join
NATO.
Amid the scandal, seven lawmakers from Orinats Yerkir resigned from
the party.