RUSSIAN LEADER REPORTEDLY AGAINST ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S SUCCESSOR

Iravunk, Yerevan
29 Aug 06

Text of I. H. report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 29 August
entitled "Putin is against but Serzh is for"

[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan and [Russian President] Vladimir
Putin have recently met in Sochi. They discussed domestic political
developments in Armenia. Russian diplomatic sources say that Vladimir
Putin spoke directly about Robert Kocharyan’s alleged legal successor.

According to our source, it was a surprise even for Kocharyan that
Putin spoke directly without [observing] diplomatic norms: "Russia
does not see and accept [Armenian Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan
your legal successor".

According to the same source and a source close to the Armenian
president, this opinion of the Russian president was conveyed to Serzh
Sarkisyan. He was called to weigh pros and cons. However, as our source
said, Serzh Sarkisyan said that he had made up his mind long ago.