ARF is withdrawing from the Quartet. “It is quite normal that a political force enjoying a great public trust like PAP aspires to be nominated for the position of presidential candidate. There is nothing condemning here. Moreover, the opposite would be illogical”, said PAP faction Secretary, Naira Zohrabyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, in response to the observation that ARF faction leader Armen Rustamyan had stated that the political forces that are in favor of parliamentary system of government, and are against the constitutional reforms, are fighting for the chair, aspiring to the position of president’s chair. He also added that in the future, PAP will provide more details of why it thinks that at this stage there is no need for constitutional reforms.
Shortly after, the session of the Quartet: PAP, ANC, ARF and “Heritage”, will be held. The agenda of the session is not yet known. Naira Zohrabyan said that they would decide on spot. However, rumors are circulating that after this session, ARF will withdraw from partnership of the Quartet, since they do not reach consensus in the Quartet on constitutional reforms: ARF is in favor of, whereas the political forces currently do not see the necessity for constitutional reforms. ARF faction leader, Armen Rustamyan, refrained from communicating with journalists and answering this question. He said that currently the interview is not in his priorities, and he will answer all questions a few hours later.
It the question of Aravot.am whether it is likely that ARF would withdraw from the Quartet and changes be introduced in the programs of the Quartet, especially when the constitutional reform committee member, Gevorg Danielyan, has already announced that they had stopped at shifting to the model of parliamentary government system as final version, Naira Zohrabyan answered, “It would be correct if ARF answers the question. I do not see any reason that the political parties of the Quarter, who consider that currently there is no need for any constitutional amendments, would make changes in their programs. Today we have a meeting, and it would be right to get the answers to all these questions after the meeting.”
To the question whether PAP would not change its position, Ms. Zohrabyan replied, “Yes. We are not against any reform, however, any change should be done in time, under broad public and political consensus. Otherwise, the consequences could be much more devastating and dangerous.” The MP of “Heritage” faction, Zaruhi Postanjyan, said on this that the Quartet is a small partnership within the Parliament and it has not yet developed into a partnership that will serve the national interests: total change of regime, dissolution of the National Assembly and new presidential elections. “As soon as the process of serving the national interests commences, and I hope that so it will be, the forces that will be left out of this process will also be left out of the political processes,” said she.
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Nelly GRIGORYAN
