By Vache Sarkisian
Armenian newspapers report on Sunday wedding of Robert Kocharian’s son Sedrak Kocharian. “Hayastani Hanrapetutiun reports the wedding party was not as lavish and grandiose as many would expect. Everything was rather modest. The event took place in a restaurant that is affordable for many other ordinary citizens. The father and the mother, Robert and Bella Kocharian, were seated at the table with all other guests. Kocharian’s son Sedrak Kocharian married the daughter of Parliamentary deputy Vladimir Badalian. According to “Azg”, Armenia’s defense minister Serzh Sarkisian, who was the” Best Man” of the wedding, gave as a present two wedding rings to the young couple worth of $40 000 each. Kocharian’s family then flew to Paris. While President meets French President Chirac, the married couple will spend their honeymoon in Paris.
Aravot writes that during the presidential elections, President Kocharian has visited Mez Mazda village in Vardenis region to participate in the opening of a new gas pipeline, that has been presented in the news as his gift to the villagers. Recently journalists visited the village and saw nothing; the President had put the inauguration fire on a gallon of gas under the tree, Aravot reports.
The gunfire exchange in our streets is far more dangerous for the country’s internal political stability than any provocation of external forces or any actions of the opposition, Hayots Askharh writes. Street fights have deep social roots and are connected with the attempts to legalize the illegal activity of some parts of society. These people are trying to undermine the state, Hayots Askharh writes.
Ayb Fe reports that it would not be possible to solve the crime problem by replacing the Armenian Police Chief. Everything comes from the top of the government.
The developments of last several months prove that we are living in an anarchy, Golos Armenii writes. The street killing in Gumri was another proof that the authorities are miserable at confronting the criminal world. When we see a lot of crime committed during the elections and no one is being punished, we understand that the criminals get the best treatment in this country. We understand that it is not only impossible to live in this country but also it is very dangerous.
The defense minister Serzh Sarkisian assures Hayots Askharh that there was no significant change in the crime rate and that the law-enforcement agencies are acting very adequately and professionally.