Political and social figures, representatives of civil society included in the electoral list of the Heritage Party before the election this March gathered and signed the declaration Oath of New Armenia. That declaration was signed by Khachatur Kokobelyan, the leader of the Free Democrats Party, and Alexander Arzumanyan. They confirmed with their signatures that “from now on, we represent a comprehensive political and civil alternative for the democratic national change and declare ourselves a unity, in which the person’s freedom of thought and expression is respected and free and unconstrained competition of ideas and political positions is ensured.” www.aravot.am inquired of Zaruhi Postanjyan, a Heritage Party MP, whether the declaration Oath of New Armenia was in force at the moment, when a split had occurred between Khachatur Kokobelyan and the Heritage Party. She replied, “We can say at least for the moment that Khachik Kokobelyan, a representative of the Free Democrats Party, has violated those agreements, also, the oath. There were obligations provided for by that oath, which that person has violated. And everyone whom you offer an opportunity to correct his mistake, but he doesn’t realize that, must be punished. The punishment… we decided on this kind of punishment – he doesn’t represent the Heritage Party from now on.”
We asked to clarify whether it was a punishment for him, whether new vistas might not open up, Zaruhi Postanjyan replied, “If you are in politics and you gain a reputation of breaking obligations in politics, I don’t think it is a good, positive phenomenon. It will be desirable, if no politician takes this path, doesn’t commit violations and if he has, he should at least try to make up for it.”
Khachatur Kokobelyan said while making a statement on withdrawing from the Heritage Party parliamentary group that he had proposed at the very first meeting of the parliamentary group that the parliamentary group be led not by Ruben Hakobyan, but by Zaruhi Postanjyan. In response to our question why Khachatur Kokobelyan wanted her to be the leader, whether she was more diplomatic, more tolerant, why, Zaruhi Postanjyan advised us to ask Kokobelyan that question, since she had no answer to that.
Read also
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
