On Saturday “Erkrapah” union organized its seventh summit in the governmental meeting hall. This is the first time that Vazgen Sargsyan’s mother does not attend the meetings of this organization. Notwithstanding, Vazgen Sargsyan’s brother was present at the meeting. RA prime minister Andranik Margaryan was there too. During this meeting the “Erkrapah” made an announcement, which reads that “being loyal to the principles adopted by Vazgen Sargsyan, our independence, following the national appearance of our state and in consideration of the modern geopolitical policies the “Erkrapah” agrees that the settlement of Karabakh conflict should be done basing on the right of self-determination of the Karabakhi people, the “Erkrapah” will continue being the pioneer protector of security and independence”. The “Erkrapah” also states “it continues being loyal to the independence of the Armenian state, is not going to be involved in politics and petitions everyone to join them since they have proven their loyalty and nonpartisanship historically”. Following this statement RA deputy defense minister Arthur Aghabekyan said that the “Erkrapah” union was going to advocate the candidacy of defense minister Serj Sargsyan during the upcoming presidential elections. However, the head of the “Erkrapah” board, Manvel Grigoryan said that it was soon yet to speak about the presidential elections. The mentioned statement also reads that “it is loyal to the principles adopted during the previous summits, thus it condemns terror and believes that the organizers of the terror as of October 27, 1999, in the parliament will be discovered and punished by public justice”. The head of the “Erkrapah” union, Manvel Grigoryan said that no one, included him, would force the army against the people. “No one can do it. I will not do that either. The army should protect the people, it doesn’t belong to anyone. If there is anyone that may force the army against people, he is not a member of that society” he said. He also spoke about those war participants that had joined the “civic disobedience” movement and said that they were going to clean up the country. “It is true that Ago (Arkadi Karapetyan) was commanding in Karabakh for one month in 1991. However, it wasn’t permanent commanding and it didn’t last long. After that the commander was Commandos, then Serj Sargsyan and following him Samvel Babayan. In the period when he was commanding in Karabakh Serj Sargsyan was the defense minister of Karabakh. He hasn’t been connected with the army since that time, since 1991. Personally I haven’t met him since the foundation of the official Armenian army. I haven’t met him during the war either. All the war commanders that I know are in the army now, besides Samvel Babayan”.
