The agreement singed between the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the ruling Republican Party on February 24, hands the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development and the Ministry of Education over to ARF. The new member of the ruling coalition was also given the management of two regions in Armenia; Shirak and Aragatsotn.
The Agreement on Political Cooperation was signed by the Vice-Chair of the Republican Party, Armen Ashotyan and Aghvan Vardanian, Representative of the ARF Supreme Body. In Ashotyan’s words, “This agreement is not a post-referendum coalition or pre election alliance. This agreement is the beginning of a long-term cooperation in politics, because it is based on a common set of values, common goals and actions.”
Presenting the agreement as a new kind of political collaboration culture on Armenia’s political landscape, Ashotyan continued, “We signed a document that will enable us to strengthen cooperation between political parties and the desire to achieve the objectives set for a new Armenia.”
Aghvan Vardanyan described the agreement as a “road map of the main political aspirations of the two parties”. Vardanyan expressed confidence that the combination of forces will generate the power that will change the political, social and economic situation in the country.
You can find the full text of the agreement here
Today, by a Presidential decree, ARF member Davit Lokyan was appointed Minister of Territorial Administration, Artsvik Minasyan was appointed Minister of Economy and Levon Mkrtchyan Minister of Education and Science.
All three appointees have previously headed different miniseries.
Davit Lokyan: 2001-2003: Minister of Urban Development. 2003-2008: Minister of Agriculture.
Artsvik Minasyan: 2005-2007:Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
Levon Mkrtchyan: 2000-2001: Deputy Foreign Minister. 2001-2003 and 2006-2008: Minister of Education and Science.
