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Looking for Solutions: National Assembly opposition groups call for changes
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/44035/armenian_national_assembly_hovik_abrahamyan_raffi_ hovannisian
POLITICS | 01.03.13 | 15:17
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Three of Armenia's parliament factions continue negotiating, calling a
special session of the National Assembly to discuss the post-election
developments.
During their meeting the Heritage and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation faction members suggested to speaker Hovik Abrahamyan that
three issues be put on the agenda - snap parliamentary elections
during the next 12 months, shift to 100 percent proportionate
electoral system within two years' time, and increase of the
opposition's control levers.
After the discussion Heritage faction leader Ruben Hakobyan said there
were disputable issues still under discussion with no agreement
reached yet. Hakobyan says at the moment the authorities are
considering their suggestion on snap parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, Republican Galust Sahakyan says: `It is absurd to make a
proposal to dissolve the parliament during a discussion related to the
presidential elections. What would dissolving the parliament do? This
time the Heritage was able to overcome the 5 percent threshold, what
would happen after dissolution? They aren't going to `destroy their
house with their own hands', are they? '
He also pointed out that the subject of discussions was on a different
track from the suggestions made by the opposition, and added: `I
believe the authorities and the opposition can reach an agreement, in
terms of jointly finding solutions to certain issues, rather than
about posts and positions. Giving the management of this or that
sphere to the opposition does not solve the issue. It can only be
solved by means of agreements.'
Armen Rustamyan, leading the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
faction, said that since the negotiations have not been concluded, he
cannot offer any comments for the sake of effectiveness of the same
negotiations.
It should be noted that parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan made an
appeal early this week to call a special session to discuss the
post-election processes, to which oppositional factions responded
positively.
The parliament speaker further stated that the authorities are
expecting `reasonable suggestions' by Raffi Hovannisian.
`The right thing to do would be if Mr. Hovannisian presented
reasonable suggestions on behalf of the voters; even force, ground,
prove, urge us to accept those suggestions, carry out reforms and
implement serious personnel policy. I believe that's the right way, if
we care about progress in our country,' said Abrahamyan, not ruling
out the possibility of making Heritage part of the government.
In response to the parliament speaker, Hovannisian said: `I have made
my suggestions, and I am ready to hear any reasonable suggestion from
Mr. Sargsyan'.
From: A. Papazian
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/44035/armenian_national_assembly_hovik_abrahamyan_raffi_ hovannisian
POLITICS | 01.03.13 | 15:17
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Three of Armenia's parliament factions continue negotiating, calling a
special session of the National Assembly to discuss the post-election
developments.
During their meeting the Heritage and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation faction members suggested to speaker Hovik Abrahamyan that
three issues be put on the agenda - snap parliamentary elections
during the next 12 months, shift to 100 percent proportionate
electoral system within two years' time, and increase of the
opposition's control levers.
After the discussion Heritage faction leader Ruben Hakobyan said there
were disputable issues still under discussion with no agreement
reached yet. Hakobyan says at the moment the authorities are
considering their suggestion on snap parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, Republican Galust Sahakyan says: `It is absurd to make a
proposal to dissolve the parliament during a discussion related to the
presidential elections. What would dissolving the parliament do? This
time the Heritage was able to overcome the 5 percent threshold, what
would happen after dissolution? They aren't going to `destroy their
house with their own hands', are they? '
He also pointed out that the subject of discussions was on a different
track from the suggestions made by the opposition, and added: `I
believe the authorities and the opposition can reach an agreement, in
terms of jointly finding solutions to certain issues, rather than
about posts and positions. Giving the management of this or that
sphere to the opposition does not solve the issue. It can only be
solved by means of agreements.'
Armen Rustamyan, leading the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
faction, said that since the negotiations have not been concluded, he
cannot offer any comments for the sake of effectiveness of the same
negotiations.
It should be noted that parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan made an
appeal early this week to call a special session to discuss the
post-election processes, to which oppositional factions responded
positively.
The parliament speaker further stated that the authorities are
expecting `reasonable suggestions' by Raffi Hovannisian.
`The right thing to do would be if Mr. Hovannisian presented
reasonable suggestions on behalf of the voters; even force, ground,
prove, urge us to accept those suggestions, carry out reforms and
implement serious personnel policy. I believe that's the right way, if
we care about progress in our country,' said Abrahamyan, not ruling
out the possibility of making Heritage part of the government.
In response to the parliament speaker, Hovannisian said: `I have made
my suggestions, and I am ready to hear any reasonable suggestion from
Mr. Sargsyan'.
From: A. Papazian