Armenian people could pay high price for Armenian premier`s selfie  with Donald Trump - opposition MP

ArmInfo.  Armenian citizens will have to pay $1 billion just for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to take another selfie with US President Donald Trump. Hayk  Mamijanyan, leader of the opposition "I Have the Honor" faction,  announced this at a briefing on January 22, commenting on Trump's  initiative for the Peace Board project.

According to the opposition leader, only a few countries have joined  the American leader's initiative, each of which must contribute $1  billion to the Board's authorized capital. "Representatives of the  ruling Civil Contract faction constantly avoid answering the question  of where Armenia will pay these funds. They constantly state that it  is not yet known whether such a condition exists, but in that case, I  logically ask whether even if the country doesn't contribute, will it  have equal voting rights or not? I think the answer is obvious. But  even if it turns out that Armenia must contribute in any case, that  would mean all citizens of the country would have to pay this amount  just so Pashinyan can take another selfie with Donald Trump," Hayk  Mamijanyan noted.

He added that Pashinyan's photos are a heavy burden for Armenia. For  example, the country was saddled with a heavy $60 million burden for  a selfie taken on a Su-30SM aircraft, which was not used for even a  minute to defend the state's territorial integrity due to a lack of  ammunition. The only benefit of this deal was a selfie taken by the  Prime Minister of Armenia.

In turn, Artur Hovhannisyan, secretary of the ruling Civil Contract  faction, suggested that Armenia's participation in the Board may not  be mandatory. In any case, Hovhannisyan continued, the answer to this  question can be provided by the Office of the Prime Minister of  Armenia.

The signing ceremony of the Peace Board charter is scheduled for  January 22 in Davos, with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  also participating. Invitations to participate in the Board have been  sent to the heads of approximately 60 states, and confirmation has  been received from 35 countries, including Armenia.

The Board's executive committee will include, among others, US  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President's son-in-law Jared  Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Some European  leaders, according to Reuters, are concerned that, judging by the  draft charter, decision-making powers in the Peace Board will be  concentrated in the hands of Donald Trump. The latter will obviously  be able to retain the post of Chairman of the Board for life.