Prime Minister Andranik Margarian assures “Hayots Ashkharh” that no changes in the government are planned for the near future. Noting that the pre-election period is not so good for the economy, he says that this year, campaigning has started a little earlier, activating the political scene. The prime minister believes this is somewhat a normal process, however, “ everything should stay within the limits of civilized campaigning”, he insists, otherwise no one can really win.
“ If I had a military rank and if tomorrow I got involved in politics and they stripped me of my rank, I would not feel bad, even for one moment”, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian tells “Iravunk”, referring to the case of former defense minister, Vagharshak Harutunian. The latter, who is an active member of the opposition, was stripped of all his military ranks by a presidential decree this month. Serzh Sarkisian mocks the opposition by adding that there is a grain of truth in what Aram Sarkisian, a leader of the hard-line opposition said on the subject: “If Vazgen Sarkisian was alive, the president would not have issued this decree”. It is perhaps true, says the defense minister. If Vazgen was alive, we would all do our jobs and Aram Sarkisian would continue to run his cement factory, instead of heading a political party and appearing as the undisputed expert on all kinds of political and military issues. In his interview with “Iravunk”, Serzh Sarkisian also talks about the president, saying that Robert Kocharian often puts out fires here and there because stability is the most important factor for the country. Sarkisian adds: “For me, Kocharian is first of all the president and only then a friend”. On presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh, he assures the public that he is behind the incumbent candidate, president Arkady Ghukasian, underlining his belief that Ghukasian will get elected “with the overwhelming votes of the people of Karabakh”.
The Chairman of the Moscow Armenian “Unity” organization, Sembat Karakhanian tells “Golos Armenii” that the situation for the Armenian community is not only tense but explosive. “Every day we receive around 150 phone calls” by Armenians who feel threatened by anti-immigrant threats. “People are in panic. They call to ask for help”, says the community leader, adding that people are already talking about a list of cities where anti-Armenian pogroms are planned for the fall. “The Armenian foreign ministry and the embassy in Moscow should finally understand that silence is not the way to come out of this situation”.
“Or” comments that the return of former president, Levon ter-Petrosian is being prepared taking advantage of the existing tense political situation. The paper believes that although this political comeback is well organized, the return to politics of the first president is premature. He has not become a strong enough myth and as a politician, he has very little to offer, comments “Or”. “Ter-Petrosian, the politician, has forever passed to the pages of history”.
Hrach Melkumian
“ If I had a military rank and if tomorrow I got involved in politics and they stripped me of my rank, I would not feel bad, even for one moment”, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian tells “Iravunk”, referring to the case of former defense minister, Vagharshak Harutunian. The latter, who is an active member of the opposition, was stripped of all his military ranks by a presidential decree this month. Serzh Sarkisian mocks the opposition by adding that there is a grain of truth in what Aram Sarkisian, a leader of the hard-line opposition said on the subject: “If Vazgen Sarkisian was alive, the president would not have issued this decree”. It is perhaps true, says the defense minister. If Vazgen was alive, we would all do our jobs and Aram Sarkisian would continue to run his cement factory, instead of heading a political party and appearing as the undisputed expert on all kinds of political and military issues. In his interview with “Iravunk”, Serzh Sarkisian also talks about the president, saying that Robert Kocharian often puts out fires here and there because stability is the most important factor for the country. Sarkisian adds: “For me, Kocharian is first of all the president and only then a friend”. On presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh, he assures the public that he is behind the incumbent candidate, president Arkady Ghukasian, underlining his belief that Ghukasian will get elected “with the overwhelming votes of the people of Karabakh”.
The Chairman of the Moscow Armenian “Unity” organization, Sembat Karakhanian tells “Golos Armenii” that the situation for the Armenian community is not only tense but explosive. “Every day we receive around 150 phone calls” by Armenians who feel threatened by anti-immigrant threats. “People are in panic. They call to ask for help”, says the community leader, adding that people are already talking about a list of cities where anti-Armenian pogroms are planned for the fall. “The Armenian foreign ministry and the embassy in Moscow should finally understand that silence is not the way to come out of this situation”.
“Or” comments that the return of former president, Levon ter-Petrosian is being prepared taking advantage of the existing tense political situation. The paper believes that although this political comeback is well organized, the return to politics of the first president is premature. He has not become a strong enough myth and as a politician, he has very little to offer, comments “Or”. “Ter-Petrosian, the politician, has forever passed to the pages of history”.
Hrach Melkumian