Yerevan /Mediamax/. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today has issued a statement, which reads:

“The President considers it important that the political crisis, caused by the matter of dismissal of Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan, is resolved urgently.

For this purpose, the President has held meetings with the Prime Minister, General Colonel Onik Gasparyan, and senior command personnel of the army. The President has studied the Prime Minister’s substantiation for rejecting the President’s objections to the draft decree on dismissal of Chief of General Staff.

It is evident that current situation is the result of disagreements between political and military leaders, sometimes of very personal nature, in the war and post-war circumstances. The President also cannot ignore the comments that motivated him to object to the draft decree due to their controversial nature from the legal point of view, as well as the legal practice, and possible breach of law.

The President has underlined in previous statements that an urgent resolution of this issue in accordance with the Constitution is of priority importance for security and stability of Armenia and Artsakh and of absolute priority for preservation of statehood, prevention of further division within the society, restoration of public unity and harmony, determination of the way to overcome this uncertain situation, and achievement of a final solution.

The President has decided against signing the draft decree.

At the same time, based on Point 4 of Paragraph 1 of Article 169 of the Constitution, the President will apply to the Constitutional Court to clarify if the Law on military service and status of military personnel, adopted on 15 November 2017, adheres to the Constitution.

Remaining committed to his duty, the President continues taking measures toward stabilizing the situation and urges everyone involved to define a comprehensive solution for all current issues through the President’s institution as the negotiation platform.”