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I HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR MR OSKANYAN'S POINT OF VIEW
Aravot
Oct 16 2012
Armenia
Naira Zohrabian interviewed by Nelly Grigoryan
[Translated from Armenian]
In an interview with pro-opposition daily Aravot, a senior member of
the Prosperous Armenia party, Naira Zohrabyan, has said that the party
has not yet discussed plans for the 2013 presidential election. She
said that she respected former Foreign Minister and member of
Prosperous Armenia Vardan Oskanyan's statement on his plans to run
in the election but that this was Oskanyan's personal point of view.
Zohrabyan also defended the party's move to boycott the parliamentary
vote that stripped Oskanyan of his parliamentary mandate following
official charges of money laundering brought against him.
[Correspondent] A former minister of urban development from the
Prosperous Armenia party, Vardan Vardanyan, was invited to the General
Investigation Department of the Armenian Police on 15 October. How
would you comment on that?
[Zohrabyan] There is no need to look for special scenarios everywhere.
A criminal case has been launched in connection with the National
Library of Armenia, and it is supposed in the context of the case
that the former minister was invited to express his point of view
regarding some issues. I am sure that Vardanyan has things to tell
regarding the library and will provide that information.
Our party, the leader of our party [Gagik Tsarukyan] have been
following this process very closely, and in case we notice something
or developments that are causing concern or are unlawful, we will
indeed react.
[Correspondent] Did Mr Vardanyan report the issue to the PA leadership,
are you aware of what happened in fact?
[Zohrabyan] All of our party members are in constant contact with Gagik
Tsarukyan, and Tsarukyan is informed of all the processes. We will
follow all the processes, and if it becomes necessary for Vardanyan
to provide clarifications as a former minister, I am sure that he
has answers to all the questions.
[Correspondent] The fact that Tsarukyan did not attend parliamentary
discussions on [former Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan's case has
been interpreted in a variety of ways up to the present. Why has Mr
Tsarukyan not made a statement?
[Zohrabyan] When the Prosecutor-General's Office issued the first
report on the case of Civilitas [a foundation formerly led by
Oskanyan], Tsarukyan made a statement saying he and the PA backed
Oskanyan and that he would invite experts to Armenia [to defend
Oskanyan] and he did so.
[Passage omitted: Zohrabyan says that Tsarukyan's statement should
not be misinterpreted and no-one should make statements and say that
there are discords inside the PA]
[Zohrabyan] For that reason I would like to repeat Tsarukyan's
clarification to a news website - if anyone believes that any PA
member can make statements on behalf of the PA without coordinating
them with the leader of the PA, then these people are badly mistaken
in their interpretations.
The PA is an open party, any member is free to voice his or her
opinions during internal discussions, but when a political decision
is in place, then everyone must follow that decision.
[Correspondent] What is the PA's attitude to Oskanyan's clear hint
that he may run in the coming [2013] presidential election?
[Zohrabyan] We have not discussed that issue in the party, because
the party has not yet discussed the issue of the presidential election.
When Mr Oskanyan stated his personal point of view, he said from the
very beginning that it was his personal point of view and not one
of the party's. If you are interested in my personal point of view
regarding Mr Oskanyan's personal point of view, I would say that I
treat such point of view of Mr Oskanyan with deep respect.
[Correspondent] Ms Zohrabyan, what did the tactics of boycotting [by
the PA] of the parliamentary vote on Oskanyan's case yield? Would
it not be more correct if the second largest parliamentary faction
[the PA] took part in the vote and lobbied among the circle of MPs
who intended to vote against - as it turned out there were such MPs
even in the [ruling] Republican Party of Armenia.
[Zohrabyan] Boycott is political tactics, and we found it purposeful
to boycott the farce that was going on in parliament. I am sure that
was the correct decision.
[Correspondent] When is the PA going to discuss the format of its
participation in the presidential election?
[Zohrabyan] There are no specific schedules. We will discuss it at
our convenience.
Aravot
Oct 16 2012
Armenia
Naira Zohrabian interviewed by Nelly Grigoryan
[Translated from Armenian]
In an interview with pro-opposition daily Aravot, a senior member of
the Prosperous Armenia party, Naira Zohrabyan, has said that the party
has not yet discussed plans for the 2013 presidential election. She
said that she respected former Foreign Minister and member of
Prosperous Armenia Vardan Oskanyan's statement on his plans to run
in the election but that this was Oskanyan's personal point of view.
Zohrabyan also defended the party's move to boycott the parliamentary
vote that stripped Oskanyan of his parliamentary mandate following
official charges of money laundering brought against him.
[Correspondent] A former minister of urban development from the
Prosperous Armenia party, Vardan Vardanyan, was invited to the General
Investigation Department of the Armenian Police on 15 October. How
would you comment on that?
[Zohrabyan] There is no need to look for special scenarios everywhere.
A criminal case has been launched in connection with the National
Library of Armenia, and it is supposed in the context of the case
that the former minister was invited to express his point of view
regarding some issues. I am sure that Vardanyan has things to tell
regarding the library and will provide that information.
Our party, the leader of our party [Gagik Tsarukyan] have been
following this process very closely, and in case we notice something
or developments that are causing concern or are unlawful, we will
indeed react.
[Correspondent] Did Mr Vardanyan report the issue to the PA leadership,
are you aware of what happened in fact?
[Zohrabyan] All of our party members are in constant contact with Gagik
Tsarukyan, and Tsarukyan is informed of all the processes. We will
follow all the processes, and if it becomes necessary for Vardanyan
to provide clarifications as a former minister, I am sure that he
has answers to all the questions.
[Correspondent] The fact that Tsarukyan did not attend parliamentary
discussions on [former Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan's case has
been interpreted in a variety of ways up to the present. Why has Mr
Tsarukyan not made a statement?
[Zohrabyan] When the Prosecutor-General's Office issued the first
report on the case of Civilitas [a foundation formerly led by
Oskanyan], Tsarukyan made a statement saying he and the PA backed
Oskanyan and that he would invite experts to Armenia [to defend
Oskanyan] and he did so.
[Passage omitted: Zohrabyan says that Tsarukyan's statement should
not be misinterpreted and no-one should make statements and say that
there are discords inside the PA]
[Zohrabyan] For that reason I would like to repeat Tsarukyan's
clarification to a news website - if anyone believes that any PA
member can make statements on behalf of the PA without coordinating
them with the leader of the PA, then these people are badly mistaken
in their interpretations.
The PA is an open party, any member is free to voice his or her
opinions during internal discussions, but when a political decision
is in place, then everyone must follow that decision.
[Correspondent] What is the PA's attitude to Oskanyan's clear hint
that he may run in the coming [2013] presidential election?
[Zohrabyan] We have not discussed that issue in the party, because
the party has not yet discussed the issue of the presidential election.
When Mr Oskanyan stated his personal point of view, he said from the
very beginning that it was his personal point of view and not one
of the party's. If you are interested in my personal point of view
regarding Mr Oskanyan's personal point of view, I would say that I
treat such point of view of Mr Oskanyan with deep respect.
[Correspondent] Ms Zohrabyan, what did the tactics of boycotting [by
the PA] of the parliamentary vote on Oskanyan's case yield? Would
it not be more correct if the second largest parliamentary faction
[the PA] took part in the vote and lobbied among the circle of MPs
who intended to vote against - as it turned out there were such MPs
even in the [ruling] Republican Party of Armenia.
[Zohrabyan] Boycott is political tactics, and we found it purposeful
to boycott the farce that was going on in parliament. I am sure that
was the correct decision.
[Correspondent] When is the PA going to discuss the format of its
participation in the presidential election?
[Zohrabyan] There are no specific schedules. We will discuss it at
our convenience.