YEREVAN. – The reporter from Haykakan Zhamanak daily asked Iveta Tonoyan, the spokeswoman of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan, whether the latter will leave the National Security Council (NSC), where he is a member, the daily reports.  

‘“No such matter is discussed at this time,’ Tonoyan responded.

This matter became actual when it was decided that Sport [and Youth Affairs] Minister Hrachya Rostomyan will not be included in the new Government. Once becoming a minister, Rostomyan naturally had suspended his PAP membership, but it was known that he was the PAP representative in the former Government.     

Since a new situation was created following the [capital city] Yerevan Council of Elders election [which was conducted on May 5] and another role will be assigned to PAP, it was assumed that Tsarukyan should give up his [National] Security Council membership.

[But] to remind, after not being included in the coalition [government], Tsarukyan not only did not leave NSC, but, as an NSC member, he sees off or welcomes [President] Serzh Sargsyan when he heads to, or returns from, a country,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.