Armenian premier and opposition mp exchange courtesies again
03.10.2013,
15:35
Parliamentary journalists witnessed another verbal tussle between Tigran Sargsyan, Armenian prime minister, and Nikol Pashinyan, an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress, at yesterday’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.
YEREVAN, October 3. /ARKA/. Parliamentary journalists witnessed another verbal tussle between Tigran Sargsyan, Armenian prime minister, and Nikol Pashinyan, an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress, at yesterday’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.
Verbal tussles between them have already become commonplace in the National Assembly –Pashinyan asks questions to the premier and the latter’s answers never satisfy the opposition-minded lawmaker.
Remarkable is that at one of the previous Q&A sessions in early September, when the prime minister was in China, Pashinyan still blamed him for being out of the country in such a crucial moment – he meant Armenian authorities’ decision to seek membership in the Customs Union for Armenia.
This time the legislator asked Sargsyan why the government, enjoying sweeping legal powers, has failed to save the building of the central market in Yerevan, which is a monument of architecture and which expected to be transformed into the largest supermarket of Yerevan City chain belonging to Samvel Alexanyan, an MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.
The premier answered that culture and urban planning ministries with the city authorities were searching for ways to settle the matter in accordance with the law. The opposition MP reacted to this answer angrily hurling reproaches at his opponent and accusing the government of inability to fulfill its legal functions.
“I understand that you have no answers again,” he said. “You have been appointed as prime minister by those persons who have destroyed one of the architectural monuments. It comes from your answer that Armenia has no government – there are ministers and a premier who serve some tycoons.”
In response, Sargsayn said that Pashinyan cares neither of the market building nor social problems and that he is just satisfying his ambitions.
“You make insulting statements to curry favor with particular persons and tom upgrade your political rating,” he said. “I could rate your political activity in the same insulting manner, but I respect the parliament and can't afford to descend to this level.”
The session ended and none of the sides said something significant though they gave pleasure for readers of tabloids. .---0---
