HHK and ARF sign formal document (video)
The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) formally signed a coalition agreement on February 24. The document was signed by HHK Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan and representative of the ARF Supreme Body Aghvan Vardanyan at the Presidential Palace. After the ceremony, Armen Ashotyan and Aghvan Vardanyan talked to journalists about the deal that gives ARF three ministerial and two gubernatorial posts in Shirak and Aragatsotn provinces. Both men were in high spirits. “This is not a classic coalition, but political cooperation. First, we amended the country’s Organic Law and then, considering the ideological similarities of our parties, we signed an agreement on cooperation,” the HHK Deputy Chairman said. “The document is a roadmap which encompasses our ideas and approaches. "Instead of splitting, political forces should try to find a new way to ensure development in different spheres of the countries. I hope we shall be able to implement all our plans with God’s help,” Aghvan Vardanyan said, in turn. Under the document, Dashnaktsutyun will get three ministerial posts in the government. Levon Mkrtchyan will become Minister of Education and Science, Artsvik Minasyan and David Lokyan will be appointed Minister of Economy and Minister of Territorial Administration and Development respetively. In addition, Hovsep Simonyan will be appointed Governor of Shirak province and Gagik Gyozalyan – that of Aragatsotn province.
