YEREVAN. – Both the authorities and the opposition need to realize that there were no winners and losers in the talk between President Serzh Sargsyan and non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan.

ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party National Assembly Faction Head Armen Rustamyan stated about the aforementioned at Friday’s parliament briefings.

“I would not want Tsarukyan to consider himself defeated, and it’s very bad if the authorities fall into euphoria considering themselves a winner; this will cost dearly to us. Such clashes are solely a derivative of the system which, unfortunately for us, is still maintained.

“The halls of power [in Armenia] don’t change by way of elections. For that reason, there have been interpersonal conflicts in the days of [the tenure of] both the first president and the second, and they will also remain [during the tenure] of the [forthcoming] fourth [president of Armenia],” Rustamyan added.

As reported earlier, speaking at the February 12 meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (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 issued a statement, 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.

On February 17, however, Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan held a brokered talk, and on the next day, the PAP leader issued a statement. “(…). To solve the existing problems in Armenia, we need not wage war against each other, but work calmly, without insulting each other, show all existing shortcomings, find solutions and implement them (…). [But] I note with regret that, during the last few days, the processes in our country are going in a completely different course; this direction leads to no place good (…). We cannot continue like this (…). Not crossing the boundary of reason is the task of both the authorities and the opposition. All problems must be solved in a peaceful, lawful, [and] political way,” Gagik Tsarukyan’s statement specifically ran. He also had called off the rally that was slated February 20.