YEREVAN. – Becoming a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) did not adversely affect the standing of Minister of Agriculture, Ignati Arakelyan, he told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

During a meeting with media representatives, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, however, had announced that his becoming an RPA member had a negative impact on his reputation.

“It has no impact on me,” Arakelyan noted, for his part. “I have no concerns at all.”

But the minister added that he does not feel a commitment to take anyone else along with him to the ruling political force of Armenia.