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'ICE IS MELTING': SARKISIAN, TSARUKYAN MEET
By Weekly Staff on February 17, 2015
YEREVAN (A.W.)--On Feb. 17, a meeting took place between Armenian
President Serge Sarkisian and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader
Gagik Tsarukyan. Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D) Member of Parliament Aghvan Vardanyan told CivilNet that
the ARF-D has done everything in its power to find a solution to the
recent escalation in tensions between the two parties, in order to
ensure that the country is not faced with major consequences.
Vardanyan refused to comment on the outcome of the meeting and told
reporters that each side will release its own statement soon.
Armen Rustamyan
Following the meeting, ARF Bureau member Armen Rustamyan told 168.am.,
"We have continuously said that the edges need to be smoothed out,
that we are on the side of improving relations, and that we have
exerted our humble efforts in that regard. We are pleased that the
meeting has finally taken place, that communication is advancing,
and that the ice is melting,"
The meeting comes in the wake of rising tensions between the ruling
regime and the PAP. Sarkisian criticized Tsarukyan at a Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) Council meeting on Feb. 12. After a session
of the Executive Council of the PAP the following day, Tsarukyan
responded to Sarkisian's criticisms and called on the citizens of
Armenia to "prepare for struggle."
Several members of PAP were arrested last night. Officers raided
the home of Parliament member (MP) Rustam Gasparyan and conducted a
thorough search, according to reports.
President Sarkisian and Gagik Tsarukyan (Photo: Slaq.am)
According to PAP MP Elinar Vartanyan, the Arabkir, Maralik, and
Shengavit district office directors of the party have also been
arrested, as has Artur Mamoyan, the Nor Nork district PAP office
director, on suspicion of carrying an unlicensed firearm.
ARF-D Bureau member and head of the party's political faction,
Armen Rustamyan voiced his belief that the recent political tensions
have entered a new and dangerous stage and can have irreversible
repercussions for the country. "We could lose everything," said
Rustamyan, in a recent interview, citing that the battle between the
PAP and the RPA confirm the ARF-D's grave concerns about the political
landscape of the country.
Rustamyan had also confirmed that the ARF-D has been working hard
to bring together the two sides and broker an agreement. "Although I
will not give details about our efforts, I can say that we have been
using our contacts and hope to succeed," Rustamyan told Yerkir.am.
The ARF-D is steadfast in its belief that constitutional reforms are
needed in the country. However, political conflicts and snap elections
will not solve the issue, according to Rustamyan. He believes the
only way conditions will change is if all sides come to the table
and discuss the issue of constitutional and electoral reform. "We
should make our demands clear to the regime. If there is unity in our
demands, then the authorities will not have any reason to deny us,"
said Rustamyan.
On Jan. 15, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the
RPA announced that his party is ready to discuss the ARF-D's proposals
for constitutional reforms. "I have examined the proposals, and I must
say that the ARF-D did serious work. There are proposals that I agree
with, and there are proposals that can become a topic for discussion.
There might be proposals that the RPA won't agree with, but the fact
remains that the [they] are written by professionals...in which the
interests of the state are placed above the interests of political
parties," Sharmazanov explained.
According to Sharmazanov, the proposed constitutional reforms are
very important and worthy of consideration. "In this sense, I think
the Dashnaktsutyun's proposals are worth discussing. Of course,
there are issues on which the RPA has its own views, but they are
issues that can be discussed. I'm certain that we can solve all those
issues through discussions," he added.
Rustamyan explained that the ARF-D is not getting ready to join a
coalition with the RPA after President Sarkisian's withdrawal of the
Turkey-Armenia protocols from Parliament. According to Rustamyan, the
recalling of the protocols was just one of seven demands the ARF-D has
presented to the government. "If there are real steps taken towards
the realization of those seven points, then we [the ARF-D] is ready
to co-operate with anyone ready to work with us, said Rustamyan. He
also urged members of all parties to join the ARF-D when they sit at
the bargaining table with authorities.
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/02/17/sarkisian-tsarukyan-meet/
By Weekly Staff on February 17, 2015
YEREVAN (A.W.)--On Feb. 17, a meeting took place between Armenian
President Serge Sarkisian and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader
Gagik Tsarukyan. Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D) Member of Parliament Aghvan Vardanyan told CivilNet that
the ARF-D has done everything in its power to find a solution to the
recent escalation in tensions between the two parties, in order to
ensure that the country is not faced with major consequences.
Vardanyan refused to comment on the outcome of the meeting and told
reporters that each side will release its own statement soon.
Armen Rustamyan
Following the meeting, ARF Bureau member Armen Rustamyan told 168.am.,
"We have continuously said that the edges need to be smoothed out,
that we are on the side of improving relations, and that we have
exerted our humble efforts in that regard. We are pleased that the
meeting has finally taken place, that communication is advancing,
and that the ice is melting,"
The meeting comes in the wake of rising tensions between the ruling
regime and the PAP. Sarkisian criticized Tsarukyan at a Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) Council meeting on Feb. 12. After a session
of the Executive Council of the PAP the following day, Tsarukyan
responded to Sarkisian's criticisms and called on the citizens of
Armenia to "prepare for struggle."
Several members of PAP were arrested last night. Officers raided
the home of Parliament member (MP) Rustam Gasparyan and conducted a
thorough search, according to reports.
President Sarkisian and Gagik Tsarukyan (Photo: Slaq.am)
According to PAP MP Elinar Vartanyan, the Arabkir, Maralik, and
Shengavit district office directors of the party have also been
arrested, as has Artur Mamoyan, the Nor Nork district PAP office
director, on suspicion of carrying an unlicensed firearm.
ARF-D Bureau member and head of the party's political faction,
Armen Rustamyan voiced his belief that the recent political tensions
have entered a new and dangerous stage and can have irreversible
repercussions for the country. "We could lose everything," said
Rustamyan, in a recent interview, citing that the battle between the
PAP and the RPA confirm the ARF-D's grave concerns about the political
landscape of the country.
Rustamyan had also confirmed that the ARF-D has been working hard
to bring together the two sides and broker an agreement. "Although I
will not give details about our efforts, I can say that we have been
using our contacts and hope to succeed," Rustamyan told Yerkir.am.
The ARF-D is steadfast in its belief that constitutional reforms are
needed in the country. However, political conflicts and snap elections
will not solve the issue, according to Rustamyan. He believes the
only way conditions will change is if all sides come to the table
and discuss the issue of constitutional and electoral reform. "We
should make our demands clear to the regime. If there is unity in our
demands, then the authorities will not have any reason to deny us,"
said Rustamyan.
On Jan. 15, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the
RPA announced that his party is ready to discuss the ARF-D's proposals
for constitutional reforms. "I have examined the proposals, and I must
say that the ARF-D did serious work. There are proposals that I agree
with, and there are proposals that can become a topic for discussion.
There might be proposals that the RPA won't agree with, but the fact
remains that the [they] are written by professionals...in which the
interests of the state are placed above the interests of political
parties," Sharmazanov explained.
According to Sharmazanov, the proposed constitutional reforms are
very important and worthy of consideration. "In this sense, I think
the Dashnaktsutyun's proposals are worth discussing. Of course,
there are issues on which the RPA has its own views, but they are
issues that can be discussed. I'm certain that we can solve all those
issues through discussions," he added.
Rustamyan explained that the ARF-D is not getting ready to join a
coalition with the RPA after President Sarkisian's withdrawal of the
Turkey-Armenia protocols from Parliament. According to Rustamyan, the
recalling of the protocols was just one of seven demands the ARF-D has
presented to the government. "If there are real steps taken towards
the realization of those seven points, then we [the ARF-D] is ready
to co-operate with anyone ready to work with us, said Rustamyan. He
also urged members of all parties to join the ARF-D when they sit at
the bargaining table with authorities.
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/02/17/sarkisian-tsarukyan-meet/