In response to a question of journalists whether the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) could become opposition, Gagik Tsarukyan, the PAP leader stated at the consecration of the newly-built St. John the Baptist Church in the town of Abovyan, Diocese of Kotayk, yesterday: “No, the PAP cannot become opposition. The 3-4 parties that already exist in the opposition camp cannot become 5-6. The PAP is all for anything that may benefit the country and the people. I didn’t enter politics for politics or flattery, but for a special reason, to contribute to the people’s and the country’s development.” www.aravot.am inquired of ANC members what comment they would make on this statement of the PAP leader, given the fact that the ANC had hoped that the PAP would become opposition. Vahagn Khachatryan, a member of the ANC, replied: “Time will tell. There will be discussion on the Cabinet’s program in the upcoming days; then we will see. Let us not get ahead of ourselves, let us not make predictions. The main target of the PAP’s criticism so far has been the Cabinet’s work. So we can cooperate at least in that area. Our approaches correspond to theirs.” We inquired whether cooperation between the ANC and the PAP would be reliable after G. Tsarukyan’s statement. Mr. Khachatryan replied: “At least, during the election, we cooperated with each other on the issue of electoral fraud well.” In response to a question whether the future format and directions of cooperation between the ANC and the PAP might be revised, V. Khachatryan said: “When we have specific work to do, then we will be able to say more clearly.” Vladimir Karapetyan, a member of the ANC, in his turn, said in response to the aforementioned question: “Nothing has changed; the PAP is the same as it has been. I don’t see any change.” When asked whether one could consider cooperation between the ANC and the PAP reliable in this context, Mr. Karapetyan first asked to clarify the question and inquired which sphere exactly we meant; then answered: “I see good prospects for cooperation in the parliament. There are no elections now, but we efficiently cooperate with the PAP to prevent electoral fraud that may be committed in polling places during the voting. With regard to reliability, I don’t think that question is appropriate at the moment.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
