ArmInfo.Armenian President Armen Sarkissian attaches importance to the soonest resolution of the political crisis connected with the dismissal of the Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan. This is stated in the statement of the RA President's press service.
At the same time, the presidential administration noted that for this purpose, Sarkissian held meetings with the Prime Minister, Colonel General Onik Gasparyan and the high command of the Armed Forces. The reasons for the Prime Minister's rejection of the President's objections to the draft resignation decree were examined.
"Obviously, the current situation is the result of disagreements between political and military leaders in the war and the post-war period, sometimes with very personalized approaches. We cannot also ignore the problematic interpretation, judicial practice and possible gaps in the law, which formed the basis against signing the decree, "Sarkissian said.
At the same time, he recalled that in his previous statements he emphasized that the soonest settlement of the issue within the framework of the Constitution is of paramount importance for the security and stability of Armenia and Artsakh. At the same time, Sarkissian added that there is an absolute need to preserve statehood, prevent further division of society, restore the unity of people, restore public solidarity, get out of an uncertain situation, and come to a final decision.
"The President of the Republic decided not to sign the draft decree," Sarkissian's statement says, adding that, guided by paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Article 169 of the RA Constitution, he will apply to the Constitutional Court to determine the constitutionality of this issue.
"The President of the Republic, being faithful to his obligations, will continue steps aimed at further stabilizing the situation, calling on everyone, using the institution of the President as a platform, to negotiate to find a comprehensive solution to all existing problems," Sarkissian summed up. It should be noted that on February 28, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the second time sent to the RA President a draft decree on the dismissal of the Chief of the RA General Staff. The reason for this decision was the statement issued by the RA General Staff on February 25. Then the chief of the General Staff and 40 high-ranking officers issued a joint statement in which they called on the prime minister to resign. Pashinyan took this call as an "attempted military coup" and signed a decree dismissing Gasparyan. However, on February 27, the RA President rejected the draft decree on Gasparyan's dismissal with objections.
The day before, the Armenian Security Council also called on the president to sign a decree on dismissing Gasparyan, stressing the unacceptability of the army's interference in political processes in the country.