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Armenian opposition MP's Karabakh recognition bill spurs heated debate
in parliament - Video
18:43 - 18.10.13
Opposition MP Zaruhi Postanjyan proposed Friday a draft law on the
recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh, thus raising a heated debate at
the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee.
Her move received a strong criticism by Hamlet Harutyunyan, a lawmaker
of the ruling Republican Party, who said Postanjyan doesn't have the
moral right to make such a proposal after her scandalous question
addressed to the president at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE).
But the opposition MP objected to his remark. `If you hadn't raised
the issue, I would have thought this to be a concern stemming from the
country's interests,' she said.
Postanjyan (Heritage party), who represents the Armenian delegation to
the PACE, asked President Serzh Sargsyan at the Assembly's latest
plenary session to comment on the rumors that he has gambled away 70
million at a European casino. Her question was later widely criticized
by the ruling authorities in Armenia.
Before introducing her bill to the Committee today, Postanjyan said
that a decision on recognizing the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous
Region was adopted back in 1989 a period which she said was
politically more complicated compared to our times.
`All the political steps are linked to the future recognition of the
second Armenian state, given especially [the president's] September 3
statement about returning to the Customs Union ... The recognition of
Artsakh is more than ever important today,' she said.
In response to the call, the Committee's chairman, Artak Zakaryan,
asked the opposition MP if she had any idea as to future steps and
procedures. `Suppose we recognize the Republic of Artsakh, can you
describe the processes and developments that would take place? And
what would be the responsibility of the political decision-makers in
that case?'
Postanjyan's pointed to the national interest while responding to the
remark. `That's in the interests of our two Armenian states ...
Secondly, we must have, of course, a corresponding document package
with the Republic of Artsakh,' she said.
The Heritage lawmaker said that Armenia has to first of all stand by
Nagorno-Karabak before developing further relations with the EU or any
other supranational body.
`We must first of all have our union with the Artsakh Republic ... There
are absolutely no signatures by representatives of the Artsakh
Republic in the documents which were drawn up after the signing of
ceasefire,' Postanjyan added.
The bill received three votes `in favor' and two votes `against'.
Tevan Poghosyan of the opposition Heritage party and Armen Roustamyan
of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun
(ARF-D) expressed support to Postanjyan's proposal. Alexander
Arzumanyan and Hamlet Harutyunyan voted "against". The other committee
members abstained from voting.
A bill proposed by individual MPs or a parliamentary faction needs
five positive votes to be put on the agenda of a plenary session or
regular debates.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/10/18/postanjyan-lghh-chanachum/
http://www.tert.am/en/video/yvB9VIfQckA/
in parliament - Video
18:43 - 18.10.13
Opposition MP Zaruhi Postanjyan proposed Friday a draft law on the
recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh, thus raising a heated debate at
the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee.
Her move received a strong criticism by Hamlet Harutyunyan, a lawmaker
of the ruling Republican Party, who said Postanjyan doesn't have the
moral right to make such a proposal after her scandalous question
addressed to the president at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE).
But the opposition MP objected to his remark. `If you hadn't raised
the issue, I would have thought this to be a concern stemming from the
country's interests,' she said.
Postanjyan (Heritage party), who represents the Armenian delegation to
the PACE, asked President Serzh Sargsyan at the Assembly's latest
plenary session to comment on the rumors that he has gambled away 70
million at a European casino. Her question was later widely criticized
by the ruling authorities in Armenia.
Before introducing her bill to the Committee today, Postanjyan said
that a decision on recognizing the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous
Region was adopted back in 1989 a period which she said was
politically more complicated compared to our times.
`All the political steps are linked to the future recognition of the
second Armenian state, given especially [the president's] September 3
statement about returning to the Customs Union ... The recognition of
Artsakh is more than ever important today,' she said.
In response to the call, the Committee's chairman, Artak Zakaryan,
asked the opposition MP if she had any idea as to future steps and
procedures. `Suppose we recognize the Republic of Artsakh, can you
describe the processes and developments that would take place? And
what would be the responsibility of the political decision-makers in
that case?'
Postanjyan's pointed to the national interest while responding to the
remark. `That's in the interests of our two Armenian states ...
Secondly, we must have, of course, a corresponding document package
with the Republic of Artsakh,' she said.
The Heritage lawmaker said that Armenia has to first of all stand by
Nagorno-Karabak before developing further relations with the EU or any
other supranational body.
`We must first of all have our union with the Artsakh Republic ... There
are absolutely no signatures by representatives of the Artsakh
Republic in the documents which were drawn up after the signing of
ceasefire,' Postanjyan added.
The bill received three votes `in favor' and two votes `against'.
Tevan Poghosyan of the opposition Heritage party and Armen Roustamyan
of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun
(ARF-D) expressed support to Postanjyan's proposal. Alexander
Arzumanyan and Hamlet Harutyunyan voted "against". The other committee
members abstained from voting.
A bill proposed by individual MPs or a parliamentary faction needs
five positive votes to be put on the agenda of a plenary session or
regular debates.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/10/18/postanjyan-lghh-chanachum/
http://www.tert.am/en/video/yvB9VIfQckA/