Armenian parliament vice speaker Eduard Sharmazanov commented on the statement by former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, who expressed readiness to run for president in February 2013, in case Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan doesn’t nominate his own candidacy.

He dubbed ex-minister Oskanian’s remarks a ‘personal opinion’, noting that only party leader Tsarukyan’s statements can represent the party’s official stance.

“Since 2011, Prosperous Armenia head has issued no official statement on the issue, except for the one about plans to endorse the current president, Serzh Sargsyan,” Sharmazanov said, adding that Prosperous Armenia is free to determine the format of its participation in the upcoming presidential race.