Tweet
ARMENIAN PREMIER REITERATES STANCE ON RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, OTHER ISSUES
Public TV
Dec 21 2007
Armenia
The Prosperous Armenian party [PAP] announced today it will endorse
the candidacy of [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan in the [19 February
2008] presidential election. The decision was passed at the party's
political council meeting.
[Passage omitted: the decision is based on the coalition agreement]
[Correspondent] The Prosperous Armenia party, being faithful to
the coalition agreement signed with the Republican Party of Armenia
[RPA] after the parliamentary election [in May], will endorse Serzh
Sargsyan's candidacy. This was the only issue included on the agenda
of the PAP political council meeting. The party said it will use its
entire potential for Sargsyan's victory.
[Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan, addressing the meeting]
The Prosperous Armenia party will support Serzh Sargsyan's candidacy
and will work for his victory.
[Passage omitted: Tsarukyan says Sargsyan is capable of dealing with
all the issues Armenia faces.]
[Correspondent] The PAP political council members said that some
of the party's programme provisions have been incorporated in the
cabinet's programme and the support for Sargsyan will contribute to
the implementation of the party programme.
[Passage omitted: PAP member call on other parties to show tolerance
for maintaining stability in the country]
[Correspondent] Serzh Sargsyan appreciated the cooperation between
the PAP and the RPA.
[Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, addressing the meeting] This is great
honour for me and I express my sincere appreciation to you. [Passage
omitted: Sargsyan praises the PAP]
[Correspondent] Sargsyan also spoke about the domestic political
situation. He answered the allegations that National Unity party
leader Artashes Geghamyan is running in the presidential election
only after an agreement was reached with Sargsyan.
[Sargsyan, emerging from the meeting, answering journalists' questions]
I have disagreements with Geghamyan over many issues.
Often, his criticism towards me and the authorities are not
constructive. But you cannot say that Geghamyan is not a patriotic
politician. I think that Geghamyan could be an ideological and
political rival. Neither Geghamyan, nor me have made secrets out
of that meeting [refers to a meeting between them slammed by the
opposition media]. There is no secrecy; neither he, nor me deny such
a meeting took place. I am ready to meet, dispute and discuss issues
with all those politicians - opposition or pro-government - if they
are constructive.
[Passage omitted: Sargsyan denies allegations he evades meetings
with people.]
[Correspondent] Several media outlets have alleged that Sargsyan
had acted under the dictate of the moment [as said] when he told The
Financial Times that Turkey's admission in the European Union would
contribute to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Sargsyan reiterated that his position on this issue has not been
changed for years.
[Sargsyan] I never change my opinion on a principal issue; I never
change my opinion under a dictate of a moment. I have not said anything
new. I have just used the opportunity to reiterate our country's
position that is included in our national security strategy and other
significant documents. I have said it a year ago, five years ago,
seven years ago. Those who had no intention to hear, did not hear it;
those who tend to comment those statements in a different way, are free
to do so. What I am saying is that Armenia and Turkey are neighbours,
and neighbours should have normal relations. I am sure that sooner or
later, people in Ankara will have this understanding. But it is very
important that the majority in Armenia have this understanding too.
[Correspondent] Sargsyan thinks that the forthcoming presidential
election is very important for Armenia's further development. His
wish is for the presidential election to result in a situation free of
political confrontation and tension to ensure an effective cooperation
of the legislative and executive branches of the government.
Public TV
Dec 21 2007
Armenia
The Prosperous Armenian party [PAP] announced today it will endorse
the candidacy of [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan in the [19 February
2008] presidential election. The decision was passed at the party's
political council meeting.
[Passage omitted: the decision is based on the coalition agreement]
[Correspondent] The Prosperous Armenia party, being faithful to
the coalition agreement signed with the Republican Party of Armenia
[RPA] after the parliamentary election [in May], will endorse Serzh
Sargsyan's candidacy. This was the only issue included on the agenda
of the PAP political council meeting. The party said it will use its
entire potential for Sargsyan's victory.
[Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan, addressing the meeting]
The Prosperous Armenia party will support Serzh Sargsyan's candidacy
and will work for his victory.
[Passage omitted: Tsarukyan says Sargsyan is capable of dealing with
all the issues Armenia faces.]
[Correspondent] The PAP political council members said that some
of the party's programme provisions have been incorporated in the
cabinet's programme and the support for Sargsyan will contribute to
the implementation of the party programme.
[Passage omitted: PAP member call on other parties to show tolerance
for maintaining stability in the country]
[Correspondent] Serzh Sargsyan appreciated the cooperation between
the PAP and the RPA.
[Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, addressing the meeting] This is great
honour for me and I express my sincere appreciation to you. [Passage
omitted: Sargsyan praises the PAP]
[Correspondent] Sargsyan also spoke about the domestic political
situation. He answered the allegations that National Unity party
leader Artashes Geghamyan is running in the presidential election
only after an agreement was reached with Sargsyan.
[Sargsyan, emerging from the meeting, answering journalists' questions]
I have disagreements with Geghamyan over many issues.
Often, his criticism towards me and the authorities are not
constructive. But you cannot say that Geghamyan is not a patriotic
politician. I think that Geghamyan could be an ideological and
political rival. Neither Geghamyan, nor me have made secrets out
of that meeting [refers to a meeting between them slammed by the
opposition media]. There is no secrecy; neither he, nor me deny such
a meeting took place. I am ready to meet, dispute and discuss issues
with all those politicians - opposition or pro-government - if they
are constructive.
[Passage omitted: Sargsyan denies allegations he evades meetings
with people.]
[Correspondent] Several media outlets have alleged that Sargsyan
had acted under the dictate of the moment [as said] when he told The
Financial Times that Turkey's admission in the European Union would
contribute to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Sargsyan reiterated that his position on this issue has not been
changed for years.
[Sargsyan] I never change my opinion on a principal issue; I never
change my opinion under a dictate of a moment. I have not said anything
new. I have just used the opportunity to reiterate our country's
position that is included in our national security strategy and other
significant documents. I have said it a year ago, five years ago,
seven years ago. Those who had no intention to hear, did not hear it;
those who tend to comment those statements in a different way, are free
to do so. What I am saying is that Armenia and Turkey are neighbours,
and neighbours should have normal relations. I am sure that sooner or
later, people in Ankara will have this understanding. But it is very
important that the majority in Armenia have this understanding too.
[Correspondent] Sargsyan thinks that the forthcoming presidential
election is very important for Armenia's further development. His
wish is for the presidential election to result in a situation free of
political confrontation and tension to ensure an effective cooperation
of the legislative and executive branches of the government.