YEREVAN. – Iravunk daily of Armenia writes: Rumors continue to actively circulate on the Internet that the now independent MP Gevorg Petrosyan of the NA [National Assembly] has left the PAP [i.e., the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party] to join the [political] team of second president Robert Kocharyan.

How real are the rumors being spread Iravunk tried to inquire personally from Mr. Petrosyan, who stated: "I have to treat with respect the rumors being spread because it is the opinion, maybe the wish, of some people. I have said, and I say again: I do not know Robert Kocharyan personally, I have never met him. This decision of mine [to leave the PAP] is not conditioned by the motivation to jump from here to there.

At the same time, I would like to emphasize that I have the greatest respect for the person of the second president. After all, he is the person during whom the country's economy grew, the people were able to live and feel safe. Our borders were secure, and most importantly, the enemy was humble in the presence of Robert Kocharyan during the years of his tenure. All this must be appreciated. (…).”

- Mr. Petrosyan, do you rule out any cooperation with the second president in the future?

- I do not rule out anything. If a politician rules out something, then he should engage in something else, not politics.