Epress.am News from Armenia
Former foreign minister, Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan Oskanian (pictured) refused to speak during the discussion in Armenia's parliament today on creating an ad-hoc commission to investigate the events of March 1, 2008. This news was announced by National Assembly Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov.
Oskanian was to be the first to speak in parliament after the break, but he left the room at that time. Presiding over the session, Sharmazanov gave the floor to the next MP waiting to speak, Samvel Nikoyan. Since parliamentary deputies reminded Sharmazanov that it was Oskanian's turn, he was obliged to explain, saying that Oskanian refused to speak.
Taking the floor in parliament earlier today was Alexander Arzoumanian, who made accusations against Oskanian. He said that Oskanian, foreign minister of Armenia in 2008, had said that demonstrators had fired at police. Arzoumanian said that speaking about uncovering the events of March 1, 2008, are those who participated in covering up the case.
Recall, on that fateful day, when national police and security forces early in the morning dispersed the opposition rally in Liberty Square, Oskanian became the government representative who held a press conference, presenting the position of the authorities. In 2011, he said that he doesn't intend to apologize because he doesn't consider himself guilty.
“In such a situation, silence is the most dangerous thing and someone had to be found who could talk to the people. I appealed the opposition for dialogue. Thus, I am someone who attempted to prevent these events,” he said late February 2011.
During his press conference, he had said that "the ball is in Levon Ter-Petrossian's court" and "of 9 candidates he is the only one who doesn't stretch out his hand" after Serzh Sargsyan's call for cooperation.