«No agreement was reached on holding snap elections», – stated Edmon Marukyan, head of the opposition «Bright Armenia» faction in the National Assembly, after negotiations with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan inside the Government that lasted about an hour.
It was agreed to negotiate again after the position of «Prosperous Armenia» becomes clear; – «The Prime Minister does not link the two issues. We have linked the two issues. For example, I cannot imagine snap elections without solving the General Staff issue. But I want snap elections to take place as soon as possible. That is why I was suggesting that we come to an agreement, let us pause this part, leave it as a matter to deal with after the elections, and move forward… The Prime Minister says that these issues should not be linked».
In response to «Azatutyun’s» question of whether they are ready to give up their precondition in the second round of negotiations, Marukyan responded; – «I do not know what we will have in the second round of negotiations. I hope that everyone will have wisdom — both in the government, in the Armed Forces, and the people walking in the street — we will all have the wisdom that in the second round of those negotiations… I do not want to say bad things, let something terrible not happen, and then we come and talk about it. I hope that we will find some way somehow. How we will find that way now, I do not know yet. But I am ready to find that way, that will exists. I hope that the Prime Minister will also think about the issues I presented until the next meeting».
«We agreed that the topic cannot be closed with only our position», – Marukyan continued. – «Other forces must also… because we cannot dissolve the parliament with only our position. Because, if the talk is about the following, for example, I refuse to be nominated in case of a vacant prime minister’s post, but the other force does not refuse, that discussion becomes meaningless».
After the Pashinyan – Marukyan meeting, the government staff distributed a video, in which the Prime Minister declares that if the parliamentary forces make a decision to hold snap elections, the issue can be considered resolved. Nikol Pashinyan did not rule out that they will also present the situation to the President of the Republic, so that Armen Sarkissian not only expresses a position, but also becomes a guarantor of the implementation of their agreements.
«From the very beginning, our understanding has been exactly that, that ultimately this political phase should end with the expression of the people’s will. And today I will be glad to hear your views on how to move forward. Let us agree in advance that based on the results of today’s discussion we will not make a decision, but I will also have a meeting with the head of the «Prosperous Armenia» faction, with the head of the «My Step» faction and with the faction, based on the results of which we will try to reach a solution that is considered consensus (agreed)», – said Pashinyan.
Until this moment it is not clear whether Nikol Pashinyan will also negotiate with the leader of «Prosperous Armenia», Gagik Tsarukyan. The Prime Minister had said that he had sent an invitation to the leaders of the parliamentary opposition. But from the 24-member «Prosperous Armenia» faction they have not responded whether they received that invitation, whether Tsarukyan accepted it. One of the opposition faction’s deputies, Mikael Melkumyan, said that he is not aware, they have not discussed it. When they discuss it, they will inform.
