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DASHNAKS STILL TIGHTLIPPED ON COALITION TALKS
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 4 2007
A senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) expects
a final decision on whether his party will continue its presence in
the ruling coalition within hours.
"We are approaching the finishing line," ARF Bureau representative
Hrant Markarian told RFE/RL on Monday. "I think the answer will be
published tomorrow. It is either this way, or that."
Earlier on Monday the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia held yet
another meeting to discuss the party's immediate plans. However,
ARF representatives still avoid giving specific answers regarding
their participation in the possible coalition.
Discussions between the ARF leadership and President Robert Kocharian
regarding a new political coalition began still last week.
The ARF leadership then reportedly received "new proposals" from
the head of state on the terms of the party's continued presence in
Sarkisian's government, where it currently holds four portfolios.
The party's Supreme Council met on Friday, but made no decisions
apart from instructing its collective leadership to draft a response
to Kocharian's proposals.
"The ARF Dashnaktsutyun has presented its positions and they must be
preserved. Of course, this implies keeping political independence,"
ARF Supreme Council representative Armen Rustamian told RFE/RL late
last week. "The question of portfolios is the very last and easiest."
According to sources outside the party, the Republican Party (HHK)
and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) will be two constituents of the emerging
political coalition with established terms of cooperation with the
ARF in two fields of government responsibility, giving the party two
government posts - that of the minister of education and science,
and the minister of agriculture, as well as two regional governors'
offices. The sphere of labor and social welfare may also figure as a
subject of negotiations. The same sources predict that the ARF may
retain the posts of parliament vice-speaker, the foreign relations
committee chairman and the chairman of the committee on national
security, the interior and defense affairs.
No one from the ARF wished either to confirm or deny this information.
The assumed cooperation format gives the ARF political freedom to
withhold its support to the single presidential candidate from the
coalition in next year's presidential election, which is said to be
a demand from the party's worldwide structures.
Meanwhile, Dashnak endorsement may prove a major boost to Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian's chances of succeeding Robert Kocharian as
president next year. Observers believe this is the reason why he is
ready to share power with the center-left nationalist party despite
the fact that his HHK has won an outright majority in the Armenian
parliament. Dashnaktsutyun, by comparison, will have only 16 seats
in the 131-member National Assembly.
Sources outside the BHK say that the party, which came a distant second
in last month's parliamentary polls, may count on three ministries
in the new government - health, urban development, and part of the
environment ministry to be restructured. The same sources suggest
there are also offers of deputy ministers' and regional governors'
positions to the party.
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 4 2007
A senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) expects
a final decision on whether his party will continue its presence in
the ruling coalition within hours.
"We are approaching the finishing line," ARF Bureau representative
Hrant Markarian told RFE/RL on Monday. "I think the answer will be
published tomorrow. It is either this way, or that."
Earlier on Monday the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia held yet
another meeting to discuss the party's immediate plans. However,
ARF representatives still avoid giving specific answers regarding
their participation in the possible coalition.
Discussions between the ARF leadership and President Robert Kocharian
regarding a new political coalition began still last week.
The ARF leadership then reportedly received "new proposals" from
the head of state on the terms of the party's continued presence in
Sarkisian's government, where it currently holds four portfolios.
The party's Supreme Council met on Friday, but made no decisions
apart from instructing its collective leadership to draft a response
to Kocharian's proposals.
"The ARF Dashnaktsutyun has presented its positions and they must be
preserved. Of course, this implies keeping political independence,"
ARF Supreme Council representative Armen Rustamian told RFE/RL late
last week. "The question of portfolios is the very last and easiest."
According to sources outside the party, the Republican Party (HHK)
and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) will be two constituents of the emerging
political coalition with established terms of cooperation with the
ARF in two fields of government responsibility, giving the party two
government posts - that of the minister of education and science,
and the minister of agriculture, as well as two regional governors'
offices. The sphere of labor and social welfare may also figure as a
subject of negotiations. The same sources predict that the ARF may
retain the posts of parliament vice-speaker, the foreign relations
committee chairman and the chairman of the committee on national
security, the interior and defense affairs.
No one from the ARF wished either to confirm or deny this information.
The assumed cooperation format gives the ARF political freedom to
withhold its support to the single presidential candidate from the
coalition in next year's presidential election, which is said to be
a demand from the party's worldwide structures.
Meanwhile, Dashnak endorsement may prove a major boost to Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian's chances of succeeding Robert Kocharian as
president next year. Observers believe this is the reason why he is
ready to share power with the center-left nationalist party despite
the fact that his HHK has won an outright majority in the Armenian
parliament. Dashnaktsutyun, by comparison, will have only 16 seats
in the 131-member National Assembly.
Sources outside the BHK say that the party, which came a distant second
in last month's parliamentary polls, may count on three ministries
in the new government - health, urban development, and part of the
environment ministry to be restructured. The same sources suggest
there are also offers of deputy ministers' and regional governors'
positions to the party.