Neither People\’s Party nor RPA considers their political
and benevolent activities illegal.
“Flowers” but not the PP
“We have had a cultural, benevolent foundation “Flowers” by name for about 2 years. It is financed by my own money and the citizens\’ but not by the party money, – Tigran Karapetian, the leader of People\’s Party told us. – And our actions have no connection with the party. In answer to our observation that the name of his party and not “Flowers” are mentioned as the organizer of the initiatives, Tigran Karapetian opposed: “No, it is said, the head of ALM holding, candidate of political science and the head of PP. It is all about me. Not being a constant TV watcher of ALM, I have myself seen once how Tigran Karapetich announces that he is said his initiatives aren\’t political factor, they will see what a factor there are. Mr. Karapetian replied to my mention in the following way: “Yes, I was told that the benevolence wasn\’t a political category, I told that it was humanity. Humanity is a factor for everyone. I don\’t separate benevolence from the life. I think that the benevolence has a national spirit and we do for our nation. As a factor, business is also a political character as the person helps the budget and nation by paying taxes.” Tigran Karapetian told he was leaving for Giumry, where he would visit 24 nursery schools, he had already visited 20 nursery schools in Vanadzor and 13 in Hrazdan: “I can expect nothing from the 2 years old children. It doesn\’t serve the political purposes. We were interested whether his initiatives didn\’t purpose political objects, to win votes for the PP in the coming NA elections. “Never, my activities aren\’t pre electoral but post electoral. I have started those activities since 2003. And I\’ll do it whatever happens”.
RPA DOESN\’T DOLE
While the RPA council member Armen Ashotian complains that almost all parties are engaged in narrow party activities and only their party is engaged in party building, the RPA members give laboratory equipments to the schools of regions and announce about it on TV. Eduard Sharmazarov, the chief of RPA service of press and communication, the PM\’s assistant, delivers those equipments. The latter quoted other articles of the RA law opposing to our observation that the law “About Parties” forbids such activities. “According to the third article, the problems and goals of each party are determined by regulations and project, and educational problems have their important place in the project of our party. Our party has supplied with nationalistic, patriotic literature to the schools to raise the sense of patriotism in pupils. Mr. Sharmazanov answered that according to the 17th article of the law “About Benevolence” each person has a right to carry out benevolent activities voluntarily. So the RPA members also have right to be engaged in such activities.