V. Oskanian: Is this the way I should be treated?
"I have not taken money from Armenia," Armenia's former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said in the National Assembly on Oct. 1.
"Donations and grants were given to Armenia at my request," he said.
Oskanian views the persecution as pressure on his party [Prosperous Armenia Party -BHK] ahead of the 2013 presidential elections.
He warns that Armenia has reached a deadlock in all aspects and has no resources to be a despotic state.
In his speech, Oskanian said he had never needed money and had enough to use for his personal needs.
"Is this the way you should treat your foreign minister who served in the office for ten years?" said Oskanian.
Nikol Pashinyan, an MP of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said he was surprised to learn that Huntsman Company had given US$2 million donations to a statesman like Oskanian who knows many state secrets.
Pashinyan then asked a question concerning the March 2008 post-election bloodshed and the inadequate police actions, he proposed given the money donated by Huntsman Company to the families of March 1 victims.
Oskanian said he was ready to discuss the matter separately with Pashinyan.
In the end, he warned the Republican MPs that the same fate is awaiting them.
Mr. Oskanian and his Civilitas Foundation are accused of failing to report US$2 million donations received from the sale of 100% shares of Huntsman Building Products, LLC JSC owned by the U.S.-based Polymer Materials and Huntsman International corporations, and for misusing important portions of the funds donated for charitable purposes. The National Security Service (NSS) press service announced launched on May 25 criminal proceedings for "money laundering based on Article 190 Para 3.1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia."
Last week, Armenia's Prosecutor General petitioned the National Assembly to strip Vartan Oskanian from his parliamentary immunity.
