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Panorama.am held an interview with secretary of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) parliamentary faction Naira Zohrabyan about the format of PAP’s participation in the upcoming presidential elections and developments around ex-Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

- Mrs Zohrabyan, what is the reason for Gagik Tsarukyan’s non-attendance of parliament sessions? Is the PAP leader boycotting parliament sessions in connection with Vartan Oskanian’s case?

- No, absolutely not. I would not like us to try to see political implication in every case. I can say that Mr Tsarukyan missed parliament sessions due to working visits. But it does not mean that he will not participate in the National Assembly’s work. I repeat confidently: PAP leader will be in parliament.

As for Vartan Oskanian’s case, Mr Tsarukyan expressed his position on this issue in a statement. Yes, he thinks that Armenian Prosecutor General’s petition is legally ungrounded and he expressed support for his co-partisan in his statement. World-renowned lawyers will handle this case, which they have done and are doing now.

- Several months remain until the presidential elections. Prognoses are made as to whether PAP will nominate its candidate or will back RPA candidate. At the same time, some PAP members, Vartan Oskanian, Vahe Hovhannisyan, for instance, do not rule out the first option. When will the party be certain in its position?

- I understand the interest around the party’s decision, because PAP is currently one of the key players in Armenian political field, and it is no secret that the course of the future developments in the country will mostly depend on the PAP’s decision on the format of participation in the presidential elections. But I reiterate that PAP will decide on its own when to make public its decision.

As for personal opinions of my colleagues, not only Vartan Oskanian, Vahe Hovhannisyan, but also I think that PAP as a political force that received so many votes in the parliamentary elections should nominate its candidate. More, I can say that I see only Gagik Tsarukyan as PAP candidate for president.

- Can you already say when the PAP congress will take place?

- No, it is not yet decided whether there will be a congress or not. I reiterate that we will soon discuss issues concerning presidential elections and will make public our decision when we decide to do it.

- Coming back to recent developments as well as Facebook posts, we must say that Oskanian is sometimes mentioned as alternative to Tsarukyan. Do you see such option?

- I have already answered this: PAP’s decision on format of participation in the presidential elections will be made public when PAP decides to do it.