By Ruzanna Khachatrian
The office of the emerging Nor Yerkir party has confirmed the reports about the decision of its founder, former chief of presidential staff Artashes Tumanian to quit the initiative group two days before the planned party congress. The contract with the party’s spokesman Baghdasar Mherian is also said to have been terminated.
The congress originally planned for March 18 is now said to have been postponed indefinitely.
Tumanian had to resign as chief of President Robert Kocharian’s staff late last month in order to be able to set up a political party that he hoped would be represented in Armenia’s next government.
Now, another member of the initiative group, Robert Poladian, has assumed the duty of the party’s founder.
In an RFE/RL conversation he confirmed that Tumanian had quit.
“He [Tumanian] decided not to continue. He informed us about his step. We thanked him for initiating the party and for everything he did,” Poladian told RFE/RL without elaborating as to the reasons for the decision. Tumanian himself could not be immediately reached for comment.
Poladian only said that the initiative group will meet on Friday to discuss its future activities, but he assured that the work on building the party will be continued.
“Our immediate activities will show when we are ready to hold a party congress,” he added.