By signing a statement on cooperation, Armenia’s ruling parties lost their independence as political units rather than formed an alliance, Eduard Sharmazanov, Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), told Armenian News-NEWS.am, as he commented on some opinions that that the new coalition memorandum has enabled the ruling forces to form a bloc.

By signing the new statement, Armenia’s ruling forces just re-affirmed their willingness for teamwork for the sake of Armenian nationhood. “But, I say again, it does not mean they will run for parliament in the 2012 elections with a mixed ticket,” Sharmazanov said. He stressed that the new coalition agreement is a follow-up to the cooperation between the three ruling parties and stemmed from the political situation in the country. “Speaking at a function on the 20th anniversary of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), President Serzh Sargsyan pointed out the need for a policy aimed at eradicating negative phenomena in the country. In implementing this policy he needs the support of his team – not only the RPA, but also the Prosperous Armenia Party and the Rule of Law Party. By signing the agreement the three coalition forces re-affirmed their willingness to cooperate for Armenia’s benefit,” Sharmazanov said.

As regard the opinion that the new memorandum is not a guarantee against one of the party’s secession from the coalition in case of political need, Sharmazanov said: “It would be wrong to make forecasts for the next one or two years now. We can only state that the ruling forces have united round the new statement as the present political situation call for.  Nothing is eternal, no document, no coalition. We can only say that any document remains in effect as long as the reasons for it are strong and sound,” Sharmazanov said.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers the coalition agreement envisages the three ruling forces’ joint participation in the 2012 parliamentary elections and the support for a common candidate in the 2013 presidential election. However, some points of the document caused misinterpretations. Some political figures concluded that under the new coalition agreement the three parties are obliged to run for parliament with a mixed ticket.