6-TH CONGRESS OF UNION OF YERKRAPAH VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS HELD IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Settlement of the Karabakh issue should be dealt with by diplomats, however, if necessity to protect Artsakh with arms appears again, Yerkrapah will do it without hesitating a minute," Yerkrapah Union of Volunteer Soldiers Chairman lieutenant general Manvel Grigorian stated at the Union 6-th congress in Yerevan today. Armenian Prime Minister, member of the Yerkrapah board Andranik Margarian, Republic opposition party leader A. Z. Sargsian (brother of Armenian Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian - the first Chairman of Yerkrapah, killed in 1999), chairmen of parliamentary factions, senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. "Members of Yerkrapah, who represent various political forces will never resort to a split of the organization," A. Margarian stated. In an interview with journalists he also stated that Nagorno Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan and no proposal, which does not secure the population of Armenia and NK will be accepted either by Yerkrapah or other forces. It should be reminded that Yerkrapah ("country guard") Union of Volunteer Soldiers was formed ten years ago and played a considerable role in the domestic affairs in Armenia. It unites representatives of various political forces, representing both the authorities and the opposition. According to one of the versions, the idea of naming the union this way belongs to Armenian first President L. Ter-Petrosian.