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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT NOT COMMENTING ON PREDECESSOR'S STATEMENT
http://www.armenianow.com/news/43096/armenia_president_serzh_sargsyan_interview_ogonek
NEWS | 04.02.13 | 12:55
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has refused to comment on his
predecessor's statement in which the latter criticized his government
over a number of issues, including the electoral process.
In an interview with the Mediamax news agency last month former head
of state Robert Kocharyan said he had decided to stay out of active
politics in the current election season mainly not to get bogged
down in "petty bargaining" that he said would have been a waste of
his "time, knowledge and experience". He also spoke about "puppet
political competition" formed during the current elections.
In an interview published by the Russian Ogonek magazine today,
President Sargsyan, in particular, said: "Naturally, I will not
comment on various political statements being made these days as they
are done proceeding from the interests of those who make them."
Speaking to the magazine apparently before last week's assassination
attempt on one of opposition presidential candidates, Paruyr Hayrikyan,
which resulted in a new situation in the Armenian elections with the
possibility of their being postponed, Sargsyan said: "The situation in
Armenia is just as one would expect it to be in civilized countries
before elections. People closely follow the struggle in which worthy
politicians are taking part. I do not consider anyone of them to be
my enemy. Rather I regard all of them as opponents."
Seven candidates, including former prime minister Hrant Bagratyan,
former foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian and Soviet-era dissident
Hayrikyan, are challenging Sargyan in the ballot scheduled for
February 18.
Hayrikyan, who was wounded in an apparent assassination attempt late
last week, has until tomorrow to ask the Constitutional Court to
postpone the vote by two weeks in view of "insurmountable obstacles"
to his campaign. His failure to apply today will result in the original
voting date remaining unchanged by default.
http://www.armenianow.com/news/43096/armenia_president_serzh_sargsyan_interview_ogonek
NEWS | 04.02.13 | 12:55
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has refused to comment on his
predecessor's statement in which the latter criticized his government
over a number of issues, including the electoral process.
In an interview with the Mediamax news agency last month former head
of state Robert Kocharyan said he had decided to stay out of active
politics in the current election season mainly not to get bogged
down in "petty bargaining" that he said would have been a waste of
his "time, knowledge and experience". He also spoke about "puppet
political competition" formed during the current elections.
In an interview published by the Russian Ogonek magazine today,
President Sargsyan, in particular, said: "Naturally, I will not
comment on various political statements being made these days as they
are done proceeding from the interests of those who make them."
Speaking to the magazine apparently before last week's assassination
attempt on one of opposition presidential candidates, Paruyr Hayrikyan,
which resulted in a new situation in the Armenian elections with the
possibility of their being postponed, Sargsyan said: "The situation in
Armenia is just as one would expect it to be in civilized countries
before elections. People closely follow the struggle in which worthy
politicians are taking part. I do not consider anyone of them to be
my enemy. Rather I regard all of them as opponents."
Seven candidates, including former prime minister Hrant Bagratyan,
former foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian and Soviet-era dissident
Hayrikyan, are challenging Sargyan in the ballot scheduled for
February 18.
Hayrikyan, who was wounded in an apparent assassination attempt late
last week, has until tomorrow to ask the Constitutional Court to
postpone the vote by two weeks in view of "insurmountable obstacles"
to his campaign. His failure to apply today will result in the original
voting date remaining unchanged by default.