Armenia Parliament Chair Hovik Abrahamyan Says it was His Decision to Resign

RA National Assembly Chair Hovik Abrahamyan’s resignation was confirmed after the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) board meeting Tuesday evening. The parliamentary speaker is to be appointed head of the HHK election campaign headquarters in the 2012 parliamentary elections. Local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) spoke with Abrahamyan regarding this latest news.

Mr. Abrahamyan, is it true that you have submitted your resignation?
Tomorrow, I will give a press conference and say everything.

No, tell us now.
I made a statement that, yes, the party adopted a decision to nominate me for head of the campaign headquarters, and I offered to leave the position of National Assembly Chair, to work on developing the campaign headquarters.

Who will replace you?
We didn’t discuss this issue because it’s a process — it will last till the end of this month still. On the 14th we have a meeting; on the 14th I’ll submit my resignation and probably till the 20th, according to procedure…

Doesn’t your resignation have anything to do with what happened recently with [Prosperous Armenia party leader] Gagik Tsarukyan and Prosperous Armenia? [Note: Abrahamyan and Tsarukyan are related through marriage.] No, now at least Gagik Tsarukyan and HHK have very good relations.

Hasn’t the matter of RA Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan been discussed?
No, no issue has ben discussed; we spoke about the election campaign headquarters; it was suggested that I manage it, and I made a decision myself, I suggested that in order for the headquarters work effectively and for me to be free, to work on it, [I should resign from my position as parliamentary chair,] because we place great importance on the 2012 May elections, for our party to win. That’s why we have to take this work very seriously.

Mr. Abrahamyan, but till now it was said that the prime minister would be head of the HHK campaign headquarters.
Now they decided that it would be me. There’s great confidence and it’s a big responsibility — it’s not as if managing the headquarters is very easy; it’s very hard and very accountable [position]. There are many people who would manage the headquarters… it would be good, but it’s not by desire. It’s a serious responsibility, serious work.

Do you rule out the possibility of Armen Gevorgyan being dismissed from his position?
Don’t rule anything out in the world — why are you ruling it out?