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KOCHARYAN: PAP IS ABLE TO FORM POLITICAL AGENDA INDEPENDENTLY
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41051/armenia_ex_president_robert_kocharyan_pap
POLITICS | 13.11.12 | 15:23
Armenia's former president Robert Kocharyan has distanced himself
from the reform proposed by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
which is believed to be his political support base, as he advocated
a presidential system of government in his latest interview.
In reply to the question of the www.2rd.am web site, his unofficial
website, Kocharyan also responded to politicians seeing his "shadow"
behind PAP.
The debate emerged last week when PAP floated the idea of Armenia's
transition to a parliamentary form of government. Ruling Republican
Party spokesman and deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov
rushed to conclude that "it is figures who simply wish to come to
power that stand behind such statements." The comment was construed
by many as a jibe at the former administration of President Kocharyan.
In his interview Kocharyan, in particular, denied being a supporter
of a parliamentary form of government.
"If I was a staunch supporter of a parliamentary form of government,
it would have already been introduced in Armenia after the 2005
constitutional referendum (initiated by the President). You can run
the state incompetently or wisely both either as a President or a
Prime Minister. There are plenty of examples in global politics. The
question is not the form of government but the correct collection of
checks and balances, performance of the current political construction,
traditions and maturity of the civil society," stated Kocharyan.
The former leader, however, backed the other reform proposed by PAP - a
switch to a 100-percent proportional system of forming the parliament.
"Majority-vote elections in Armenia fuel the process of feudalization
of territories within the borders of these districts, and the
authorities, voluntarily or not, contribute to it as they are
motivated to reproduction. This is an extremely harmful phenomenon,
and the sooner we give it up the better. This is why the number of
single-mandate MPs has reduced several times in our country. I'm
sorry I haven't finished this process. Why? The answer is simple:
the power wanted to have an advantage under single-mandate districts,"
said Kocharyan.
Kocharyan made it clear that he agreed to give the interview and
explain his position on the matter "first of all because if I don't
do it, other people will do it instead of me and secondly because I
have nothing to do with the initiation of this process."
The ex-president concluded: "I would like to give advice to those very
"smart" people who see my shadow everywhere: to open eyes and finally
see that the PAP has created a team which is able to independently
form the party's political agenda."
From: Baghdasarian
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41051/armenia_ex_president_robert_kocharyan_pap
POLITICS | 13.11.12 | 15:23
Armenia's former president Robert Kocharyan has distanced himself
from the reform proposed by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
which is believed to be his political support base, as he advocated
a presidential system of government in his latest interview.
In reply to the question of the www.2rd.am web site, his unofficial
website, Kocharyan also responded to politicians seeing his "shadow"
behind PAP.
The debate emerged last week when PAP floated the idea of Armenia's
transition to a parliamentary form of government. Ruling Republican
Party spokesman and deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov
rushed to conclude that "it is figures who simply wish to come to
power that stand behind such statements." The comment was construed
by many as a jibe at the former administration of President Kocharyan.
In his interview Kocharyan, in particular, denied being a supporter
of a parliamentary form of government.
"If I was a staunch supporter of a parliamentary form of government,
it would have already been introduced in Armenia after the 2005
constitutional referendum (initiated by the President). You can run
the state incompetently or wisely both either as a President or a
Prime Minister. There are plenty of examples in global politics. The
question is not the form of government but the correct collection of
checks and balances, performance of the current political construction,
traditions and maturity of the civil society," stated Kocharyan.
The former leader, however, backed the other reform proposed by PAP - a
switch to a 100-percent proportional system of forming the parliament.
"Majority-vote elections in Armenia fuel the process of feudalization
of territories within the borders of these districts, and the
authorities, voluntarily or not, contribute to it as they are
motivated to reproduction. This is an extremely harmful phenomenon,
and the sooner we give it up the better. This is why the number of
single-mandate MPs has reduced several times in our country. I'm
sorry I haven't finished this process. Why? The answer is simple:
the power wanted to have an advantage under single-mandate districts,"
said Kocharyan.
Kocharyan made it clear that he agreed to give the interview and
explain his position on the matter "first of all because if I don't
do it, other people will do it instead of me and secondly because I
have nothing to do with the initiation of this process."
The ex-president concluded: "I would like to give advice to those very
"smart" people who see my shadow everywhere: to open eyes and finally
see that the PAP has created a team which is able to independently
form the party's political agenda."
From: Baghdasarian