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ARMENIA STEPS BACK FROM DEMOCRACY, US AMBASSADOR SAYS
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Armenia has taken a step back on its way to
democracy, US ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said in commenting
the recent developments in relation to the Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP).
Any democracy needs opposition that ensures the accountability of
the government, the ambassador said in his interview to galatv.am,
as cited by Novosti-Armenia.
Mills said active political opposition is one of Armenia strengths.
The ambassador expressed concerns over the recent developments when
the government used its power for selective application of the law.
Speaking on February 12 at a meeting of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, president Serzh Sargsyan criticized harshly the leader of
Prosperous Armenia party tycoon Gagik Tsarukian and said Tsarukian,
as a political actor, is an evil for the country. The president signed
a decree withdrawing Tsarukian from the national security council
due to his systematic failure to attend the council meetings. The
president also instructed to look into cases of the tycoon's absence
in the parliament sessions and the rumors about his tax evasion.
The leader of the Prosperous Armenia, in turn, said the reason for the
president's statements is his refusal to contribute to the reproduction
of the political power through a constitutional reform.
In particular, the tycoon said he refused to become a president
after the country turns to parliamentary form through constitutional
amendments.
The PAP was going to hold a rally on February 20, together with two
other opposition parties, Armenian national Congress and the Heritage,
but cancelled the rally later. PAP leader Gagik Tsarukian urged people
to solve problems only through peaceful, legal and political means.
At the PAP congress on March 5 Tsarukian resigned as party leader and
nominated Naira Zohrabyan who made a statement saying the PAP moved
into opposition. -0--
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_steps_back_from_democracy_us_ambassador_sa ys/#sthash.PAQsSrPo.dpuf
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Armenia has taken a step back on its way to
democracy, US ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said in commenting
the recent developments in relation to the Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP).
Any democracy needs opposition that ensures the accountability of
the government, the ambassador said in his interview to galatv.am,
as cited by Novosti-Armenia.
Mills said active political opposition is one of Armenia strengths.
The ambassador expressed concerns over the recent developments when
the government used its power for selective application of the law.
Speaking on February 12 at a meeting of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, president Serzh Sargsyan criticized harshly the leader of
Prosperous Armenia party tycoon Gagik Tsarukian and said Tsarukian,
as a political actor, is an evil for the country. The president signed
a decree withdrawing Tsarukian from the national security council
due to his systematic failure to attend the council meetings. The
president also instructed to look into cases of the tycoon's absence
in the parliament sessions and the rumors about his tax evasion.
The leader of the Prosperous Armenia, in turn, said the reason for the
president's statements is his refusal to contribute to the reproduction
of the political power through a constitutional reform.
In particular, the tycoon said he refused to become a president
after the country turns to parliamentary form through constitutional
amendments.
The PAP was going to hold a rally on February 20, together with two
other opposition parties, Armenian national Congress and the Heritage,
but cancelled the rally later. PAP leader Gagik Tsarukian urged people
to solve problems only through peaceful, legal and political means.
At the PAP congress on March 5 Tsarukian resigned as party leader and
nominated Naira Zohrabyan who made a statement saying the PAP moved
into opposition. -0--
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_steps_back_from_democracy_us_ambassador_sa ys/#sthash.PAQsSrPo.dpuf