Opposition MP Explains Why Faction Refuses to Debate Gas Contracts with Russia

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) parliamentary faction is withdrawing from the process of discussing the creation of a "gas commission" initiated by National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan, reports local news provider ilur.am.

Head of the HAK faction Levon Zurabyan, in conversation with the news website, said the reason for the decision is the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) being deconstructive.

Recall, rejecting the proposal of non-ruling parties to create an ad-hoc commission to investigate gas prices, the HHK faction, represented by Abrahamyan, suggested to discuss the issue in parliament in a different format.

According to Zurabyan, in the first such discussion, HHK MP Davit Harutyunyan made proposals that significantly changed the essence of the non-ruling parties' proposals. In particular, Harutyunyan suggested the commission's meetings be closed door and members not have the right to disclose information about the work of the commission without a decision by the commission and before the final conclusion.

The opposition MP believes that after discussing the matter in the factions and harmonizing the proposals, raising such proposals is a gross violation of the ethics of negotiations.

"We can't continue talks on this topic with a party that 'regrets' and changes its position by the minute; moreover, that those changes are directed against making the commission's activities public […] At this time the Armenian National Congress faction (the decision was adopted by the faction unanimously) is withdrawing from the negotiation process with the HHK majority regarding the gas commission and will express its position after the final draft is introduced at the National Assembly plenary session," said Zurabyan.