Cooperation agreement between the political coalition and ARF

Cooperation agreement between the political coalition and ARF
Editorial

Yerkir.am
June 08, 2007

1. Purpose of cooperation
The Political Coalition formed in the National Assembly following the
elections on May 12 and the Armenian revolutionary Federation Party
sign the present cooperation agreement with the assistance of the
President of Armenia. The goal of the agreement is:
– to accomplish the largely converging goals of government’s action
plan and the ARF’s pre-electoral platform;
– to counter efficiently the challenges Republic of Armenia is facing.

The parties of the agreement attest their will and determination to
implement the goals of the agreement.

2. Principles for work in the framework of cooperation
Adhering to the principles of mutual respect, understanding, tolerance,
conciliation, and settlement of controversies through negotiations and
discussions the parties commit themselves to act in accordance to the
content and spirit of the present agreement, implement unified policies
in cooperation with each other and the President of the Republic of
Armenia.

3. The obligations of the parties of the agreement
The parties of the agreement shall:
a) exert all efforts necessary to efficiently implement the
government’s program;
b) ensure fulfillment of all arrangements reached in the framework of
the present agreement by their members and authorized representatives
in the governance structures;
c) not undertake any actions that might directly or indirectly damage
the goals stated in the present agreement.

4. Political priorities
The political priorities of cooperation are:
– safe and sustainable economic development, reduction of the shadow
economy, application of more fair mechanisms for income distribution;
– promotion of export-oriented industries;
– increased efficiency of the fight against corruption;
– ensuring social order and further improvement of the
moral-psychological atmosphere in the country;
– bringing the legislation into correspondence with the amended
constitution;
– consolidation of the constitutional guarantees for the checks and
balances system between the branches of power in the legislation and
the political system;
– improvement of the Electoral Code;
– establishment of a multi-party system ensuring efficient political
competition;
– improvement of conditions favorable for consolidation of the civil
society;
– completion of the public service reform, formation of a fair and
efficient public administration system;
– introduction of the Judicial Code with the purpose of bringing the
functioning of the judicial system into correspondence to the European
standards.

5. The mode of cooperation in the state administration system
5.1 During the election to the National Assembly posts the parties of
the cooperation agreement shall support:
a) the candidates nominated based on the coalition memorandum;
b) the candidates nominated by the ARF for the posts of the Deputy
Chairman of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Standing Committee
on External Relations, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense,
Internal Affairs and National Security.
5.2 The parties of the agreement agree that candidates nominated by the
ARF shall be appointed to the posts of the Ministers of Agriculture,
and Science and Education.
5.3 The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party bears the
responsibility for implementation of the government’s action plan by
its representatives in the state administration system.
5.4 The parties can recall the officials nominated by them and nominate
alternative candidates.

6. The procedure for organizing the work in the framework of the
cooperation agreement
The representatives of the ARF can participate in the discussion of
draft documents of strategic and conceptual importance in the
coalition’s coordinating council. The representatives of the ARF shall
have a consultative voice in such discussions.
Any issue related to the activities of the National Assembly or the
government can be discussed upon suggestion by one of the parties with
the purpose of formulating a unanimous position on the issue. Each of
the parties shall be free to express their alternative position on any
issues not agreed with the parties.

7. The term of cooperation
The agreement shall take effect upon signature by the parties and shall
stay in effect until the next presidential elections. The agreement may
be terminated by any of the parties or by agreement reached between the
parties in case of a principal disagreement that cannot be settled.

Republican Party of Armenia
Prosperous Armenia Party
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Signed on 6 June, 2007