Former Armenian Foreign Minister and leader of the Unity Party in Armenia Vartan Oskanian expressed hope on Dec. 14 that former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan will take part in an alliance with his party and other opposition groups in the upcoming elections in April.
Vartan Oskanian
While speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Oskanian mentioned that he had worked with Ohanyan in the past and had recently met with him in October. “I will react very positively if he decides to enter politics and participate in the parliamentary elections. I do see cooperation with him,” said Oskanian.
Among other opposition groups that Oskanian plans to work with is former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovhannisian’s Heritage Party. Oskanian added that there currently were no official agreements, but that time will tell if there will be any future developments.
Oskanian, a well-known critic of the Serge Sarkisian administration, stated that the 2017 April elections provide a “unique opportunity” to establish a change in regime in Armenia.
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Oskanian’s statements come a day after an Armenian opposition bloc was formed by the Republic, Bright Armenia, and Civil Contract parties. The three opposition parties, who are strongly critical of Russia, stated that in addition to contesting the election, they plan to negotiate on their possible transformation into a single party.
The joint memorandum of the three parties says that they will strive for a “European model of the democratic, rule-of-law and social state” in Armenia and are strongly committed to the country’s “sovereignty. The three groups have not yet decided who they will nominate as their candidate for the post of Armenia’s prime minister.
When the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov was asked about the new bloc opposition and the potential formation of another he responded that, “The Republican Party of Armenia is ready to compete with all political forces in free and fair conditions. We respect all our political opponents.”