Dashnaktsutiun
and "Justice" will vote against sending Armenian military forces to
Iraq. Besides the 2005 budget of the Government, NA changes of the codex
the issue on sending Armenian military forces to Iraq will also be discussed in
the NA special session today. The opposition will also take part in the voting
and the part of opposition will say its "no" for sending military forces
to Iraq. Political forces were discussing this issue in the factions yesterday.
The commission of Foreign issues also discussed that issue in the second part
of the day. The conclusion was simple: the military formation must be sent. The
head of the commission Armen Rustamian was in ambivalent situation. The General
Body of Armenian ARF structure has a decision to vote against the above-mentioned
decision. But Mr. Rostamian isn’t only the head of the commission but the head
of that structure, too. The secretary of ARF faction Hrayr Karapetian said that
the coalition members treated with "comprehension" to dashnaktsakan’s
decision. Still on the 8 of December when the Constitutional Court has just
taken a positive decision about the appropriate agreement the Minister of Defense
Serge Sargsian said: "The overwhelming majority of our parliament pursues
the interests of the state and I’m sure they won’t take any emotional decision."
It was found out yesterday that there are some parties to take "emotional"
decisions: Dashnaktsutiun and the "Justice" bloc.The secretary of
ARF faction Hrayr Karapetian said: "The point is of great nicety and it is
impossible to say which one is right because two problems come across. There is
a problem connected with our state interest, the interests of superpowers, and
the participation of Iraqi coalition. There are also national problems connected
with the security of our communities. Dashnaktsutiun has found itself in a specific
situation as only dasnaktsutiun among Armenian parties has Armenian institutions
and we must take into consideration with them. We can’t ran the danger of that
communities as a party and not as a state or a part of coalition. So we have a
special orientation as a party in this issue." The "special" orientation
means to be against of that decision but on the other hand Dasnaktsutiun "understands
completely those political forces, which must vote for that decision. We have
explained our colleagues and they treated with comprehension."The Republicans
hasn’t taken a decision the day before waiting for the decision of the commissions
of foreign issues, Defense, Internal Affairs and National Security. But it is
obvious the party of the Prime Minister can’t simply be against an issue about
what he has always spoken positively. Nevertheless the head of RPA faction Galust
Sahakian said: " We must decide will Armenia take part in international processes
or won’t? The problem isn’t in sending to Iraq but what version is favorable.
I think it is favorable to take part in every process."It was decided
to take part in the discussion of sending military forces to Iraq and vote against
it in the sitting of "Justice " bloc yesterday. It is interesting that
the member deputies of "Republic" party didn’t take part in that sitting.The
secretary of ULP faction Grigor Ghonjeyan told us yesterday the following: "The
ULP faction has been oriented in this issue a long time before. Remarking this
as a difficult decision the ULP faction has decided to vote for the memorandum
assuming the responsibility for all consequences connected with it. We think it
mustn’t avoid of the responsibility and the decision must be taken. We think it
must answer positively to the suggestion of RA President." And the ULP treats
with comprehension to the decision of dashnaktsutiun. Grigor Ghonjeyan also said
that the ULP couldn’t overpass any difficult decision that’s why it was for that
decision. Today the discussions will be stormy but without any extraordinary
situation as the overwhelming majority will vote for the issues of both the budget
of 2005 and sending military forces to Iraq and the changes of codex, too. Margaret
Yesayan
