SERGE SARGSIAN NOT GOING TO WAIVE DEFENCE MINISTER’S POST

YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian who has lately joined
the Republican Party of Armenia and, to all probability, will be
elected on a leading post at the party’s forthcoming congress, is
not going to waive the post of the Defence Minister.

Answering the question in his interview to radio Liberty, whether he
will waive the post of the Defence Minister in the circumstance of
being engaged in active politics, though the Constitution does not
oblige to do this, Serge Sargsian declared: "Not at all. As this
is senseless. Why shall I waive the Defence Minister’s post? Have
I worked badly?… The country’s President will determine if I have
worked badly."

Serge Sargsian excluded that President Kocharian can dismiss him
because of joining a party. "The President has completely approved my
intention. I think when there is an occasion he or his spokesperson
will say this… What is the sense of acting contrary to the opinion
of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief?," he mentioned.

In response to the question, whether the Defence Minister’s post
increases his rating during the elections or on the contrary, Sargsian
said: "Let the others be glad if the things are the contrary. Why
did they fall into panic and speak about the resignation and other
things? Besides, you know very well what authority the army has in
our society. According to the surveys of the very Institute of Gelap,
the confidence of our people in the army is more than 80%."

"Do you want to be a President?," Serge Sargsian answered this direct
question: "It is difficult to say. As maybe I have not seriously
thought about it.

I say sincerely, you may believe this or not. I will indeed make my
decision after the parliamentary elections."

He added that he has never striven for any post.

In response to the question, how many seats RPA is to have at the
future parliament for him to orient himself in the issue of candidate
to the post of the President, the Minister said: I have decided
for myself that if RPA gains up to 21-22% at the elections, I will
consider this satisfactory, up to 25% good and if more excellent."

The Minister is for the principles of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement unveiled last month: "I am for the proposed principles. I
have repeatedly said this, I have expressed my opinion in the written
form. Of course, I am for," he declared.

Asked, whether he has an apprehension that if the public is of another
opinion in this issue, this will have an impact on his political
career, Serge Sargsian said: "No. If the public has another opinion,
another political force will have a majority, its policy will pass,
and it will be very good… How can I be against our people’s will?"

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress