“I am surprised that you use the word ‘unexpected’ – what was unexpected, if we take into account the fact that you hadn’t heard about any decision from the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader or the members of the political council,” Tigran Urikhanyan, the press secretary of the PAP, said in response to a question of www.aravot.am what the reason for the unexpected decision opposite to what everyone had expected – i.e. Gagik Tsarukyan will
announce his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election – was, adding that all the other questions stemming from it were not appropriate anymore.
We inquired what phase the cooperation with the parliamentary opposition – particularly with the PAP – was entering, against the background of this decision. “We have said many times that we are always ready and can cooperate with all political forces representing the people’s interests, with which we take on a task to improve the quality of life in Armenia, contribute to the country’s progress. If there are benefits for the people and the state, we cooperate, and in that sense, one shouldn’t focus on other political events.”
Read also
In response to a question whether the PAP wouldn’t guide its electorate, Urikhanyan said that the PAP political council’s decision clearly stated that the PAP wouldn’t endorse any candidate.
There are speculations that the second President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, will nominate himself for the presidential election, and he is currently in the Russian Federation to settle some final details. They say that the PAP will secretly endorse Kocharyan. In response to this observation, our interlocutor said: “You can ask the spokesperson for Robert Kocharyan the questions related to Robert Kocharyan. And the PAP has made a clear decision not to endorse anyone.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
