Growing Number of Dividers, Says Kocharyan

The chairman of the National Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee, Andranik Kocharyan, believes there is no conflict between him and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, despite various rumors circulating recently. He expressed this during a press briefing with journalists. A reporter, referencing Alen Simonyan, remarked that the Speaker stated that if he were to preside over the session, there would not have been an incident between the head of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Arghisti Kyaramyan, and the ruling party MP, Hovik Aghazaryan.

“Mr. Simonyan is the Speaker of the National Assembly, while I am the chairman of the Defense Committee. The security situation in the country is such that this committee is very active. Naturally, if the committee is active and produces fairly effective discussions and results, the authority of the committee and the committee’s chairman rises. If some people are worried about that, I am not,” Kocharyan stated.

He also emphasized that there is no need to feel threatened. “I have said, do not drive a wedge between me and Pashinyan, it’s pointless,” he added. The ruling party MP stressed that the number of those trying to sow discord is increasing.

Regarding the rumors that the Civil Contract faction was planning to discuss his removal from the chairmanship of the Defense Committee during a session with Pashinyan’s participation, Kocharyan noted that he has no such information. He did not rule out the possibility that there may have been discussions behind his back, stating: “It is very possible; are there no discussions behind your back? Let them discuss; when they notify me, if I have the opportunity to respond, I will respond. Nothing will remain a secret from you,” he emphasized.