Armenia interested in stable Ukraine – president says

Noyan Tapan news agency
26 Nov 04

Yerevan, 26 November: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today said
at the ceremony to mark the opening of the new building of the Yerevan
mayor’s office that the “congratulations to Viktor Yanukovych on his
victory in the presidential elections were expressed in the interests
of Armenia”.

The president went on to explain: “Throughout the elections in Ukraine
we did not express any opinions and had no preferences. Had Viktor
Yushchenko won, I would have congratulated him after a corresponding
statement by the Central Electoral Commission. But Yanukovych has
been elected and I congratulated him.”

Robert Kocharyan stressed that Armenia is interested in a stable
Ukraine because it is a serious partner, especially in transport
communications.

“The sooner the tension subsides, the better for Armenia,” he said.