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Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Jan 12 2007
Dashnaktsutyun Again Threatens Government Exit
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) will pull out
of the government if the upcoming parliamentary elections fall short
of democratic standards or if it fares poorly in them, a leader of
the influential nationalist party said on Friday.
`If it becomes clear that the election results are not recognized by
international bodies, Dashnaktsutyun will never be part of a
government formed by such a National Assembly,' Armen Rustamian told
RFE/RL, underlining lingering fears about the freedom and fairness of
the polls.
Rustamian, who issued a similar warning last September, said that
Dashnaktsutyun's continued presence in government also hinges on
control of an unspecified `sufficient' number of seats in the next
Armenian parliament. `We will not remain part of the government if
the number of our parliament deputies does not enable us to influence
the adoption of government decisions,' he said.
`For example, if two political forces are able to form a coalition
without us, we will not join them just to increase their government's
number of parliament seats. That is, we are not going to become the
fifth wheel of any government,' added Rustamian.
The remarks suggest that Dashnaktsutyun is aspiring to a greater role
in government affairs. The pan-Armenian party has four ministerial
portfolios in President Robert Kocharian's cabinet, none of them
relating to defense, security and foreign policy. It also holds 11
seats in the 131-strong National Assembly. Rustamian, who heads the
assembly's foreign relations committee, said it wants to win at least
as many seats in the next parliament.
Dashnaktsutyun, which has been allied with President Robert Kocharian
throughout his nine-year rule, joined the Armenian opposition in
rejecting as fraudulent the official results of the last
parliamentary elections that gave victory to Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian's Republican Party (HHK). The HHK is again seen as the
election favorite, owing to its grip on many government bodies and,
more importantly, the recently unveiled alliance with the powerful
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. Also aiming for an electoral
victory is the rapidly growing Prosperous Armenia party of Gagik
Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman close to Kocharian.
The United States and the European Union say the forthcoming vote
will put Armenia's democratic credentials to the greatest test yet.
The Kocharian administration has assured the West that it will be
more democratic than the reputedly fraudulent elections held in
Armenia in the past. But its political rivals claim that the
authorities will again resort to vote rigging and vote buying to
cling to power.
Rustamian did not exclude the possibility that Dashnaktsutyun will
stage street protests in case of a repeat of serious fraud. `If you
move into opposition, you draw up a corresponding strategy,' he said.
`In that case, we would use all political means to influence
processes with an opposition stance.'
(Photolur photo)
Jan 12 2007
Dashnaktsutyun Again Threatens Government Exit
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) will pull out
of the government if the upcoming parliamentary elections fall short
of democratic standards or if it fares poorly in them, a leader of
the influential nationalist party said on Friday.
`If it becomes clear that the election results are not recognized by
international bodies, Dashnaktsutyun will never be part of a
government formed by such a National Assembly,' Armen Rustamian told
RFE/RL, underlining lingering fears about the freedom and fairness of
the polls.
Rustamian, who issued a similar warning last September, said that
Dashnaktsutyun's continued presence in government also hinges on
control of an unspecified `sufficient' number of seats in the next
Armenian parliament. `We will not remain part of the government if
the number of our parliament deputies does not enable us to influence
the adoption of government decisions,' he said.
`For example, if two political forces are able to form a coalition
without us, we will not join them just to increase their government's
number of parliament seats. That is, we are not going to become the
fifth wheel of any government,' added Rustamian.
The remarks suggest that Dashnaktsutyun is aspiring to a greater role
in government affairs. The pan-Armenian party has four ministerial
portfolios in President Robert Kocharian's cabinet, none of them
relating to defense, security and foreign policy. It also holds 11
seats in the 131-strong National Assembly. Rustamian, who heads the
assembly's foreign relations committee, said it wants to win at least
as many seats in the next parliament.
Dashnaktsutyun, which has been allied with President Robert Kocharian
throughout his nine-year rule, joined the Armenian opposition in
rejecting as fraudulent the official results of the last
parliamentary elections that gave victory to Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian's Republican Party (HHK). The HHK is again seen as the
election favorite, owing to its grip on many government bodies and,
more importantly, the recently unveiled alliance with the powerful
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. Also aiming for an electoral
victory is the rapidly growing Prosperous Armenia party of Gagik
Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman close to Kocharian.
The United States and the European Union say the forthcoming vote
will put Armenia's democratic credentials to the greatest test yet.
The Kocharian administration has assured the West that it will be
more democratic than the reputedly fraudulent elections held in
Armenia in the past. But its political rivals claim that the
authorities will again resort to vote rigging and vote buying to
cling to power.
Rustamian did not exclude the possibility that Dashnaktsutyun will
stage street protests in case of a repeat of serious fraud. `If you
move into opposition, you draw up a corresponding strategy,' he said.
`In that case, we would use all political means to influence
processes with an opposition stance.'
(Photolur photo)