Regnum, Russia
April 14 2006

5th energy unit of Hrazdan TPS has caused dismissal of head of
Armenian presidential administration?

Head of Armenian presidential administration Artashes Tumanyan was
dismissed mainly for the talks he conducted with Iran on construction
of 5th energy unit of Hrazdan TPS. Opposition MP Arshak Sadoyan is
quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as stating it during 13 April
discussion on selling of the 5th energy unit to the Russian Gazprom.

According to him, the head of presidential administration, who was
also co-Chair of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Economic
Commission, agreed with the Iranian side in January 2006, that Iran
would construct the energy unit. In connection with the question,
`problems arose with Gazprom, and the Armenian authorities decided to
dismiss Tumanyan under pretence of fact, he established party,’
stressed Sadoyan, adding there was no other way to cancel Tumanyan’s
agreement with the Iranian side.

It should be reminded, Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on Artashes
Tumanyan’s dismissal from the post of Armenian presidential
administration’s head on February 24. On March 16, the former
administration head suddenly rejected his initiative to form the New
Country Party, which aim was Armenian membership in the European
Union till 2015.