YEREVAN. – The national security issue was the leading motive of the recent remarks by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.

Khosrov Harutyunyan, a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction, told the above-said to reporters on Monday.

In his words, Sargsyan was compelled to make such harsh remarks.

“I believe that the reason is as follows: During the conference of the non-government forces on February 5, the leader of the de facto strongest opposition [NA] faction [i.e., Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan] announced for the first time about a political plan to hold snap elections.

“(…) We know that this means achieving a change in power, first, at the price of major political and civic upheavals.

“The question arises as to whether this will cause concern in Armenia’s case, from the viewpoint of national security. Such domestic political processes are undoubtedly fraught with unpredictable consequences,” Harutyunyan added.

As reported earlier, speaking at the February 12 meeting of the RPA Board, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that PAP Chairman, MP and oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan had become a vice for the country as a political player. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council (NSC) member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the parliament sessions.

In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan stated, on February 13, 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 left this council earlier solely because of the President’s personal 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, but by way of lawful political methods.