In response to a question of www.aravot.am what was the reason that the RPA supported the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) candidates in the local elections in such big towns as Gyumri, Artak Davtyan, an RPA MP, said that his colleagues, fellow members of his party that were entitled to answer and speak on behalf of the RPA had already answered that question, “I have nothing to add.”
Samvel Balasanyan denied the statement made by President Serzh Sargsyan the previous day that he himself had proposed that Samvel Balasanyan be announced as a candidate, saying on Kentron TV channel that the PAP council had announced his candidacy, for which he was thankful and grateful to Gagik Tsarukyan, the PAP leader. And Levon Zurabyan, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) coordinator, assessed it as a slap to Serzh Sargsyan’s face.
We inquired of Mr. Davtyan whether he also considered Samvel Balasanyan’s denial as a slap in the face. He replied, “Have I ever perceived what the ANC says the way they understand it.” We inquired how he perceived Samvel Balasanyan’s denial, Mr. Davtyan replied that he was not aware, “Firstly I have to get acquainted with Mr. Balasanyan’s denial, in order to have the right to answer your questions. I don’t think that the reality is as it is presented. It is not the first time that direct facts and what has been said are put upside down and presented as the truth.”
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We inquired what relations there were between the PAP and the RPA, whether they were warm, Mr. Davtyan replied, “Normal, working relations. Why not, they are warm in some issues.”
In response to a question whether the RPA needed the support of the PAP in the presidential election, Mr. Davtyan said, “There is still time left till the presidential election, we will have the answers to all questions, as the time goes by. The RPA has rather serious potential and no other political force has more serious potential in Armenia. We have stated many times that for us, unity, cohesion is a value leaving no alternative. I think the more political forces support us in the upcoming election, the more united and cohesive our society will be.”
We also inquired of the RPA MP whether the opposition would be able to announce a joint candidate, to unite, to which he responded, “I for one would like it to be so, because both in the government and in the opposition camp and generally in life, unity and cohesion yield positive results.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
