Former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian

YEREVAN—Armenia’s former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian officially joined the ranks of the Prosperous Armenia party, which is headed by businessman Gagik Dzarukian and is a member of the ruling coalition.

According to local press accounts, Oskanian submitted his application to join the Prosperous Armenia Party last Saturday and the party leadership have reviewed and accepted his membership.

“We have examined the case carefully and we made the decision that Oskanian will become a party member,” a source within the party said on Thursday.

Oskanian issued the following announcement Sunday after applying to the party for membership:

“Yesterday I submitted my application for membership to the Prosperous Armenia Party. I make this decision convinced that the Prosperous Armenia Party, together with other political parties, is able to, through political competition, secure free and fair elections, and thus, a new National Assembly with a new configuration of political forces,” said Oskanian in a statement.

“As Chairman of the Board of the Civilitas Foundation, I had, on various occasions, expressed my views on events and developments in Armenia. Today, I believe it is time to become more actively involved in our political processes,” added Oskanian.

“Given the possibility of my membership in the Prosperous Armenia Party, in the coming days, the Civilitas Foundation Board will make a decision about my future status,” explained the former foreign minister.

Chairwoman of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary bloc Naira Zohrabyan told Yerkir.am on Tuesday that Dzarukian “has always said that Prosperous Armenia Party’s doors are open to any individual who is ready and willing to work toward a prosperous Armenia.”

While Zohrabyan said Oskanian’s participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections had not yet been discussed by party officials, the former foreign minister is expected to top the party’s roster of candidates.