Vartan Oskanian explains why he quits Prosperous Armenia Party

YEREVAN, March 5. / ARKA /. In a statement issued today former Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, who quit the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and renounced his parliamentary seat, explains his moves by the failure of the party to achieve fundamental changes to the country’s political system, which is desired by the absolute majority of his country fellows.

"The reason for my decision to end my membership in the Prosperous Armenia Party is that the party appeared to be unable to fulfill the desire, in my estimation, of the absolute majority of the Armenian people, who wanted to implement radical changes not only to drag the country out of the difficult situation, but also to choose a correct and sound direction of development, " he says in the statement posted on Facebook.

He says  he ceases his membership in the party because of knowing  his own part of the responsibility for its failure.

“Those who are gloating over the situation the party now faces must first be concerned about the political shape of the country. Here, at issue isn’t the Prosperous Armenia Party but rather the measures recently taken against it and its leader,” Oskanian writes.

According to him, arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional use of power levers  is first of all a blow to the international prestige of Armenia. He says these repressive measures have broken the hope of the people for fundamental change and that this could lead to tragic consequences.

He congratulates Naira Zohrabyan, the secretary of party’s faction in the parliament, on being elected new chairman of the party following ex-party leader Gagik Tsarukyan’s decision to step down.

"The party has a committed political team, who I hope will continue to fight against the political monopoly, as well as for the improvement of the political atmosphere in the country, '' says Oskanian.-0-