YEREVAN. – Bilateral meetings are underway within the framework of the three non-government National Assembly (NA) forces—i.e., Prosperous Armenia (PAP), Armenian National Congress (ANCP), and Heritage Parties.

The objective of these talks is to discuss the new political situation in the country following President Serzh Sargsyan’s remarks on Thursday.

The PAP press service has issued a statement about the above-said.

PAP Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan, and ANCP Chairman and First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan have met Friday at the PAP Central Office.

And in a little while, Tsarukyan will meet with Heritage’s chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian.

The discussions with such a format will continue for another one or two days, at which point this “parliamentary trio” will inform the body politic about their future courses of action.

As reported earlier, speaking at Thursday’s meeting of the board of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that PAP Chairman, MP Gagik Tsarukyan the political player had become a vice for the country. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the NA sessions.

In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan on Friday stated that the incumbent authorities must be removed from power immediately. Reflecting on Sargsyan having him removed from the NSC, the PAP leader noted that he had not formally left this council earlier solely because of the President’s personal human request. As for the plans to strip him of his parliamentary mandate, Tsarukyan said the important thing for him is the trust of the Armenian citizens, and therefore he possesses the most important mandate. In addition, the Prosperous Armenia Party chairman urged to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation by way of lawful political methods.