Zharangutyun is an 'American project:' Tigran Karapetyan

Local Armenian opposition party Zharangutyun (Heritage), which has only seven seats at the coalition parliament, is an "American project," leader of Democratic Party Tigran Karapetyan told a press conference today.

"Zharangutyun is an American project," said he, adding that it has been created so that its founder Raffi Hovhannisian can file his candidacy at the presidential elections.

"That project has been created no to be engaged in party-related activities, but rather for Raffi Hovhannisian to propose his candidacy at the presidential elections when the time comes," said Mr Karapetyan.

Speaking about the delayed draft law by Zharangutyun proposing Armenia to recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, Mr Karapetyan said that he was astonished that such an important draft law was initiated by Zharangutyun.

He also said he would be in favor of Karabakh's joining Armenia. But when it comes to whether or not Armenia should recognize Karabakh's independence, according to him, Armenia must do it, or else it cannot require others to do recognize Karabakh as an independent state.