By Anna Saghabalian
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian thanked members of his cabinet on Friday for helping hold a presidential election which he said honored Armenia’s commitments to the OSCE and the European Union. Speaking at the first cabinet meeting since his disputed victory in Tuesday’s ballot, Sarkisian instructed law-enforcement bodies to “meticulously investigate” all irregularities reported during the vote.
The government and its loyalists insist that those violations did not influence the official vote results that gave victory to the prime minister. The legitimacy of that victory is strongly disputed by the Armenian opposition. Western observers concluded, however, that the vote was largely democratic.
A government statement also quoted the president-elect as telling ministers and the heads of other governments agencies to “immediately set about implementing the planned programs.” “As a result of those programs, our people must feel positive changes every month,” he said.
Minister for Urban Development Vartan Vartanian told reporters after the meeting that he and other cabinet members are buoyed by Sarkisian’s “convincing victory.” “Before the start of the meeting the prime minister instructed all government members to continue their work as usual,” he said. “We have quite serious and realistic plans. So everyone must work hard.”
(Photolur photo)