PAP leader Naira Zohrabyan is ready to lay down her powers as a leader of the party and president of the political board
– Very recently, former President of the Prosperous Part of Armenia, Gagik Tsarukyan, who had withdrawn from the politics, declared about his return to politics. However, his statement did not reveal whether he returns to “Prosperous Armenia” party, to be the head of the PAP party or returns with another format.
– I understand that this question continues to remain in the domain of interests for many people. I assure you that you will get the answers to all these questions in the near future. At this point, I am not competent to say more than I have said. But I assure you that everything will be open, transparent, clearly visible, and I think that in the future you will also be able to ask any question to Gagik Tsarukyan in person.
– Will you continue to be the head of PAP?
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– Our view in the party is as follows: it would be right if I lay down my powers as a leader of the party and president of the political board, and Gagik Tsarukyan will again assume them. This is first of all my view too. Let’s be honest, the names PAP and Gagik Tsarukyan actually are identical both for the public and the party, it would be right for Gagik Tsarukyan to assume the leadership of the PAP.
– Ishkhan Zakaryan, Chairman of the Control Chamber who had frozen his membership in the PAP party, announced that he will stand next to Gagik Tsarukyan during the upcoming parliamentary elections. Are there people in PAP who had frozen their membership or had quit with PAP but are returning?
– It is clear that after Gagik Tsarukyan’s return, our many former party members who had withdrawn from the party for any reason have again submitted an application to return to PAP party. As for Ishkhan Zakaryan, let me remind you that he was one of the founders of the party. When he assumed the office of the President of the Control Chamber, there was a delicate issue, the PAP the then was a coalition, we had ministers. In order to be able to keep the impartiality, Ishkhan Zakaryan quit with PAP. I think that in the future, Ishkhan Zakaryan will take a very active participation in the electoral processes of “Tsarukyan” alliance.
– Is it already known which forces will be in “Tsarukyan” alliance?
– Without excessive modesty, I can say that “Tsarukyan” alliance is going to be the government’s biggest and most serious alternative pole. Currently, meetings and discussions are underway with various political forces and individual politicians. I will refrain from giving names now. In the next ten days, we will have a complete picture about “Tsarukyan” alliance and the rest of the questions which are of concern to my colleague journalists.
– Are negotiations underway with people who have abandoned PAP party and have formed other political unions: “Unity”, “Alliance”, and “Reformists”?
– We have a very good, working and friendly relationship with “Unity” party. Vartan Oskanian is my friend, Vahe Hovhannisyan is my friend, Elinar Vardanyan and Stepan Margaryan are our friends. I am not entitled to say which parties are involved in the negotiations. Everything will be simple and clear in the near future.
– Will there be a clear statement that “Tsarukyan” Alliance is an opposition?
– PAP is an opposition. Today, there are two ruling parties: RPA and ARF. All the remaining parties are in the non-government pole. PAP and “Tsarukyan” alliance will run for the elections with the highest benchmark in the parliamentary elections. I am confident that there will be such a consolidation of forces and individuals that could provide serious results under the leadership of Gagik Tsarukyan. The goal will be one: to fulfill serious and systemic reforms in our country.
– Do you consider the cooperation with the former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan possible?
– I do not rule out anything. Despite voiced different opinions, some of which could be objective and some subjective, Seyran Ohanyan is a serious role-player. I will not give names because the negotiations are still in progress.
– There were press coverages that Gagik Tsarukyan has excluded the partnership with Martun Grigoryan and Bazmaser Arakelyan. Is this the case?
– This is not true. Martun Grigoryan and Bazmaser Arakelyan are our partners with whom we have passed a long way, and I do not know a case when they have violated the correctness towards Gagik Tsarukyan or PAP anytime.
