Oskanian’s Move Reinforced the ‘Prosperous Armenia is Kocharian’s Party’ View: MP

Head of the Heritage Party’s parliamentary faction Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan, speaking to Epress.am Tuesday and weighing in on Vartan Oskanian’s application for membership to the Prosperous Armenia party (BHK), said this move will contribute to reinforcing the view that BHK is purely former president Robert Kocharian’s party.

“How much this view corresponds to the truth is another matter, but the public, reacting to Oskanian’s BHK membership, unequivocally will remember Robert Kocharian [pictured],” he said, finding it hard, however, to foresee what impact Oskanian’s BHK membership will have on his rating.

Weighing in on a possible collaboration between BHK and the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and its connection with the Oskanian factor, Safaryan said:

“Considering that the HAK leader considered collaboration with BHK possible only if BHK cuts itself off from Robert Kocharian, Oskanian’s BHK membership makes HAK-BHK collaboration less likely,” he said, noting that these two political forces can collaborate only in the matter of ensuring free and fair elections.