Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations
Armenia's incumbent president described on Saturday opposition protests against the results of Tuesday's polls in the country, which elected Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan its new leader, as a coup attempt. European and CIS observers described the February 19 polls, where Sarkisyan received 52.86% of the vote, as complying with international democratic standards. However, supporters of Sarkisyan's nearest rival, Armenia's first president Levon-Ter-Petrosyan, who garnered 21.5%, have refused to recognize the elections as valid. The opposition has been rallying in central Yerevan since Wednesday, calling for new elections.
"Our action will be resolute and sharp, aimed at maintaining stability and constitutional order in the country," President Robert Kocharyan said, adding that the country's stability could never be "a bargaining issue."
The outgoing president held three separate meetings on Saturday with chiefs of the country's police, Army and security service. He complained that the events in Armenia were aimed at creating tensions and regretted the absence in the country of "an important element of democracy," a culture to admit failure. Senior police officers assured the president that the police had enough capacity to neutralize provocations and maintain law and order in the republic. Earlier on Saturday, Kocharyan decreed to dismiss Gagik Dzhangiryan, deputy prosecutor general, who expressed his support to Ter-Petrosyan at an opposition rally on Friday. Meanwhile, the European Union and Washington have issued statements to congratulate Armenia on "competitive" presidential polls.
"We congratulate the people of Armenia on the active and competitive presidential election of February 19 and note the preliminary assessment of the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly that the election was 'mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections,'" State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said on Friday. However, Washington pointed to certain problems with electoral procedures and urged the Armenian government "investigate all allegations of irregularities, and implement steps to improve future elections." The EU Presidency welcomed "the genuine efforts that were made to address the shortcomings in previous elections" and called Armenia's elections "an important test for democracy." The EU also expressed concerns about the electoral process and pushed for further improvements "to address the remaining challenges."
Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080223/99937795.html
Panorama.am. Mr. Nikonov you’ve done various political analysis on Armenian inner political developments. What do you think is there are only two major poles between Serzj Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan and that the main struggle is between them?
Nikonov. The survey results which I’ve seen show that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is not even the second one, but the third probably. That why I can not say that he is a major candidate. I think that the elections should have only one part and Serzh Sargsyan will win.
Panorama.am. How do you evaluate Armenian-Russian relationship? Nikonov. I evaluate the development of our relations positively in any sphere. There is an integral mark on increase of economic connections and it presents the entire image. For the last years this mark is 68% which is the highest mark in 2007 (I am talking about trade relations). So there is a positive dynamic.
Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/interviews/2008/02/09/ikonov/
On 23 February the President of RA Robert Kocharyan participated at the CIS country members’ non formal summit in Moscow. According to the press and public relations department of the president’s administration, president Kocharyan had a meeting with the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin expressed his thankfulness to the president of the Armenian Republic and particularly mentioned that “due to his support and efforts Armenian-Russian relations were strengthened in economical and in political aspects in the past recent years”. Robert Kocharyan also thanked for the warmest wishings and said “To evaluate the past years, we can accept that our relations were strengthened in all aspects. Those years were really effective for Armenia and for Russia as well.” Robert Kocharyan met with the president of Georgia Mikhail Sahakashvili. Armenian and Georgian presidents discussed several economic items and made some arrangements that those issues should be discussed in detailed. It is planned that Lado Gurgenidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia should visit Armenia for improving those economic problems.
Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2008/02/23/moscow/
Armenian president accuses opposition of coup attempt
Armenia's incumbent president described on Saturday opposition protests against the results of Tuesday's polls in the country, which elected Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan its new leader, as a coup attempt. European and CIS observers described the February 19 polls, where Sarkisyan received 52.86% of the vote, as complying with international democratic standards. However, supporters of Sarkisyan's nearest rival, Armenia's first president Levon-Ter-Petrosyan, who garnered 21.5%, have refused to recognize the elections as valid. The opposition has been rallying in central Yerevan since Wednesday, calling for new elections.
"Our action will be resolute and sharp, aimed at maintaining stability and constitutional order in the country," President Robert Kocharyan said, adding that the country's stability could never be "a bargaining issue."
The outgoing president held three separate meetings on Saturday with chiefs of the country's police, Army and security service. He complained that the events in Armenia were aimed at creating tensions and regretted the absence in the country of "an important element of democracy," a culture to admit failure. Senior police officers assured the president that the police had enough capacity to neutralize provocations and maintain law and order in the republic. Earlier on Saturday, Kocharyan decreed to dismiss Gagik Dzhangiryan, deputy prosecutor general, who expressed his support to Ter-Petrosyan at an opposition rally on Friday. Meanwhile, the European Union and Washington have issued statements to congratulate Armenia on "competitive" presidential polls.
"We congratulate the people of Armenia on the active and competitive presidential election of February 19 and note the preliminary assessment of the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly that the election was 'mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections,'" State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said on Friday. However, Washington pointed to certain problems with electoral procedures and urged the Armenian government "investigate all allegations of irregularities, and implement steps to improve future elections." The EU Presidency welcomed "the genuine efforts that were made to address the shortcomings in previous elections" and called Armenia's elections "an important test for democracy." The EU also expressed concerns about the electoral process and pushed for further improvements "to address the remaining challenges."
Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080223/99937795.html
RUSSIAN POLITICIAN VIACHESLAV NIKONOV
Panorama.am. Mr. Nikonov you’ve done various political analysis on Armenian inner political developments. What do you think is there are only two major poles between Serzj Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan and that the main struggle is between them?
Nikonov. The survey results which I’ve seen show that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is not even the second one, but the third probably. That why I can not say that he is a major candidate. I think that the elections should have only one part and Serzh Sargsyan will win.
Panorama.am. How do you evaluate Armenian-Russian relationship? Nikonov. I evaluate the development of our relations positively in any sphere. There is an integral mark on increase of economic connections and it presents the entire image. For the last years this mark is 68% which is the highest mark in 2007 (I am talking about trade relations). So there is a positive dynamic.
Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/interviews/2008/02/09/ikonov/
KOCHARYAN MET WITH PUTIN AND SAHAKASHVILI
On 23 February the President of RA Robert Kocharyan participated at the CIS country members’ non formal summit in Moscow. According to the press and public relations department of the president’s administration, president Kocharyan had a meeting with the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin expressed his thankfulness to the president of the Armenian Republic and particularly mentioned that “due to his support and efforts Armenian-Russian relations were strengthened in economical and in political aspects in the past recent years”. Robert Kocharyan also thanked for the warmest wishings and said “To evaluate the past years, we can accept that our relations were strengthened in all aspects. Those years were really effective for Armenia and for Russia as well.” Robert Kocharyan met with the president of Georgia Mikhail Sahakashvili. Armenian and Georgian presidents discussed several economic items and made some arrangements that those issues should be discussed in detailed. It is planned that Lado Gurgenidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia should visit Armenia for improving those economic problems.
Source: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2008/02/23/moscow/
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