RPA member doesn't rule out snap elections in Armenia

 June 21, 2011 - 14:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President is ready to dissolve the parliament in the order stipulated by law, if the order established by law is observed, a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) stated.

At a news conference in Yerevan, Hakob Hakobyan commented on President Sargsyan's statement suggesting that Armenian National Congress (ANC) can discuss the issue of snap elections with the parliamentary speaker.

As the RPA member reminded, Armenian Constitution stipulates that President can dissolve the parliament at parliamentary speaker or prime minister's suggestion.

As Ramkavar Azatakan Party chairman Eduard Antinian, in turn, stated, no snap elections are to be expected in Armenia, considering that regular elections are due in less than a year. “ANC only brings up the issue of snap elections to save its face,” he remarked. On June 17, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued a statement relating to a dialogue with the extra parliamentary opposition, urging ANC to abandon ultimatums and resume a political dialogue with the authorities.

“If there are political forces, which have concrete and reasonable proposals, we are ready to provide concrete solutions; If among the numerous problems facing our people and our country the ANC is interested exclusively in the elections, the Speaker of the National Assembly is ready to personally receive the representatives of that political body and hear them out. If, however, there are suggestions aimed at the rise of our economy and solution of the social problems existing in the country, then the Prime Minster personally will receive them and discuss these issues. If there are issues which command intervention by the President, the Head of the Presidential Staff will receive them and discuss all issues.

However, if instead of negotiations, which are unacceptable, the Armenian National Congress is genuinely ready to continue the dialogue on the outline of the country’s development, essential issues of the country’s foreign and internal policies and desires to do so through the specially designated individuals, the representatives of the Coalition parties can sit down at the negotiation table with them. The Political Coalition is ready to conduct such discussions with all political forces which possess concrete proposals,” the presidential statement says.