BYPASSED: NA OPPOSITIONAL MPS WANT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY CUSTOMS HOUSE DECISION WAS REACHED WITHOUT DEBATE
http://www.armenianow.com/news/48350/armenia_parliament_debate_customs_union
NEWS | 10.09.13 | 09:49
Oppositional members of Armenia's National Assembly are not happy
that President Serzh Sargsyan acted without debate from Parliament
before signing an agreement that would align Armenia with Vladimir
Putin's Customs Union.
"The issue should have been discussed in Parliament before any
political decision was made. The parliament must urgently be informed
of the ongoing and further processes," Secretary of the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP) parliamentary group Naira Zohrabyan said during
Monday's NA session.
"The issue has not even been put on the agenda. Some say that
Armenia is losing its sovereignty. So we demand beginning our session
with discussing the issue of an interstate agreement and inviting
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and President Serzh Sargsyan,
who will provide explanations," said Armenian National Congress MP,
Nikol Pashinyan.
Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan of the Republican Party of
Armenia, led by Sargsyan defended the president's decision. "National
interests must underlie any agreement, and this decision really meets
Armenia's interests. I do not share the opinion that we are losing our
sovereignty." The Speaker further said that Sargsyan would discuss
the matter with "the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and other
political forces supporting him".
Pashinyan retorted: "There is no government body named RPA or
RPA-supporting forces," saying that discussions must be held with
government institutions rather than with the RPA.
Heritage Party MPs Alexander Arzumanyan and Ruben Hakobyan backed
added their voices to the calls for an explanation.
From: A. Papazian