Armenian President Armen Sarkissian today announced that he will not sign a proposal, issued by PM Nikol Pashinyan, to sack Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan.

Sarkissian’s office released a statement today that a quick settlement of the issue, within the framework of the constitution, is vital for the security and stability of Armenia and Artsakh, to preserve Armenian statehood, to prevent the further division of society, and to restore public unity.

“It is obvious that the current situation is the result of disagreements among political and military figures that surfaced during the war and post-war period, sometimes with highly personalized approaches,” the statement reads.

Sarkissian says he will use his office to stabilize the situation and calls on all involved to find a negotiated comprehensive solution to the ongoing problem.

Earlier, Sarkissian announced that he studied the proposal, reviewed the views of legal experts, and concluded that the decree fundamentally contradicts the country’s constitution.