Talking about participation in the Yerevan City Council election at the plenary meeting of the Prosperous Armenia Party political council, Gagik Tsarukyan, the PAP leader, stated: “We can admit all those who will wish to rally around the PAP axis.” There has been no consolidation of the opposition camp so far. www.aravot.am inquired during a conversation with representatives of the opposition camp whether the reason for failing to unite was that the PAP had offered to unite around its axis or one should look for the reason somewhere else. Armen Martirosyan, the deputy leader of the Heritage Party, said regarding this issue: “There is no need for mentioning any party here. Raffi Hovhannisyan has already stated that this is no partisan struggle, but who stands by the people should be in Freedom Square. The Heritage Party is merged in the people in this part and is carrying on its struggle around the Republic of Armenia from very Freedom Square, which means that we are a part of the people’s struggle, nothing more. Therefore, all those who think of themselves as opposition and are with the people should be in Freedom Square and join the popular struggle. Partisan ambitions, rallying to me or someone else are not appropriate any longer. The national struggle is carried on for new, prospering Armenia, and Raffi Hovhannisyan has taken a radical measure of self-sacrifice.” Naira Zohrabyan, the secretary of the PAP parliamentary group, in her turn, said in response to the question: “We have been open and honest during the discussions with our colleagues in the past few days; we expressed our position. The PAP was for broad union and consolidation. We told our colleagues openly and honestly during the discussions what our position was.” In response to our observation whether the PAP wasn’t afraid to give an impression of an ambitious force, Ms. Zohrabyan said: “There is no issue of being ambitious here, it is just that the PAP is a realistic political force.” Arsen Hambardzumyan, an alternate representative of the ARF Supreme Body, said regarding the issue: “One of the conditions of union is that political forces try to restrain their aspirations and reach the right compromise. We took that position during the negotiations and didn’t show any unhealthy aspiration. As for why we don’t have a union, I leave the assessments to you.” On the one hand, Mr. Hambardzumyan stated that no agreement had been reached so far, on the other hand, he expressed an idea that one couldn’t say for sure that the negotiations were a failure. Then he added: “I think that there is a small opportunity of consolidation. Until the negotiations, as such, are over, I cannot disclose certain facts, since they can damage the further progress of the negotiations. When we reach an agreement, we will state more openly why it wasn’t successful.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
