InternationalProsperous Armenia Party stays its course
Party congress reelects Gagik Tsarukian as leader
Published: Saturday February 21, 2009
Gagik Tsarukian, the Prosperous Armenia Party leader. Photolure
Yerevan - The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) held its fourth congress on February 12 in Yerevan. In the days leading to the gathering, speculation was rampant opposition press that the congress would mark a rift between the party and the governing Republican Party of Armenia. Would party leader Gagik Tsarukian's recent complaints about tax policy lead to the collapse of the governing coalition? Would Robert Kocharian, the former president, stage a comeback through the party, in effect challenging his successor?
In fact, the congress confirmed and solidified the ties between the Republican Party and the Prosperous Armenia Party, the two parties with the largest delegations in parliament.
Welcoming speeches were made by leaders of the Republican Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Country of Laws Party, which together with the Properous Armenia Party comprise the governing coalition. Armen Martirossian, head of the only opposition faction in the National Assembly, the Heritage Party, also delivered a welcoming speech.
President Serge Sargsian, Speaker of parliament Hovik Abrahamian, and Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian also participated in the opening ceremonies of the congress. The presence of the country's president was unusual; he does not normally attend party congresses other than those of his own Republican Party.
In fact, Mr. Sargsian did not simply utter a few welcoming remarks; he delivered a programmatic speech, in which he discussed the Karabakh issue and the financial-economic crisis.
"The Prosperous Armenia Party plays an active and substantial role in all the areas of developing and implementing today's state policies," the president said. "We have succeeded in creating an example of a healthy and effective coalition. As the president of Armenia and as the chairperson of the Republican Party, I convey my satisfaction with this cooperation. From now on we must continue to build our activities on important cooperative values."
Mr. Tsarukian, in turn, said, "Prosperous Armenia is loyal to the principles announced by the political coalition and we closely cooperate with our coalition partners. Today from this podium I once again confirm our support for President Serge Sargsian's resoluteness toward in-depth reforms and policies."
Opposition papers had noted that Prosperous Armenia, which holds three ministerial portfolios in the government, had voted against the tax-reform package presented by the government to the parliament. But this disagreement did not translate into a rupture of the coalition.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kocharian was not even present at the congress. Nor was Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgian, a close ally of Mr. Kocharian's who is widely viewed as a key player in the creation of the party.
They will work together
The congress, which had 588 delegates, unanimously reelected Mr. Tsarukian as its president.
On the question of Mr. Kocharian's return to politics, Mr. Tsarukian had this to say: "I do not understand journalists in general. What do you want? The man has gone to rest. Whenever he decides to return, he will make a corresponding speech, he will announce it, he will have his supporters and his program. But our journalists sleep, wake up, and quote trustworthy sources that 100 percent it's going to be like this: Robert Kocharian is going to become president and Tsarukian, prime minister. Such an issue has neither been put forward, nor does it exist. I once again repeat that Robert Kocharian is resting. Every person has the right to become involved in politics. After he presents his program and gathers his supporters, we can start thinking about that issue. Now it is too early and meaningless to think about that."
Should we get rid of the cash registers?
In the past, Mr. Tsarukian, the president of Armenian's National Olympic Committee, who has various interests in the economy (gas stations, production of cement and travertine, alcoholic drinks, including brandy, a network of furniture stores, agriculture, construction, a hotel complex, restaurant, and more) and a television station ("Center," which broadcasts in Yerevan), made a large political investment by creating the Prosperous Armenia Party. Only three years old, the party is already a factor in the political arena, with the second largest party delegation in parliament.
It is also natural that a figure that has such business interests should, during his speech at the party's congress, concentrate on the economy. "In order to eliminate the negative effects of the international financial-economic crisis, we must display unilateral state support to those businessmen on whose activities the crisis might have devastating effects. The true sector of the economy, the material goods producers and service providers, must be protected. The terms of business loans in Armenia's banking system must be reviewed; the percentages must be decreased and state-supported projects aimed at assisting local manufacturers must be implemented," he said.
"We must create a favorable environment for the establishment and development of small and medium businesses. If we fail to create that fertile soil, there cannot be serious prospects for the growth and development of small and medium businesses," Mr. Tsarukian continued. "A businessperson is one of the supporting columns of a state and the stronger those columns, the more prosperous and secure society will be."
During a question-and-answer session with journalists, Mr. Tsarukian said, "I suggest eliminating cash registers - for a while, of course - and freezing taxes on small and medium businesses." The cash registers allow tax agents to determine the value-added tax and profit tax liabilities of businesses.
