Lragir, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

WHAT OSKANYAN FEARS?

On October 25 Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan commented on his
recent speeches, namely his statements in the interview with the
Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.

In the talk with the news reporters the foreign minister said that in
speaking about the necessity to battle corruption he meant the
strategy of the government, which he thinks can be applied more
seriously. Vardan Oskanyan stated that he is not the police or the
procuracy to point to corrupt officials. `What I’m saying is let’s
apply the policy more seriously and urge the political forces to
attend to these questions during the next election campaign and make
promises to people,’ says Vardan Oskanyan.

He also disagreed with the opinion that his recent speeches are
determined by his likelihood to run for presidency. `I do not view my
speeches and my statements with this logic. Simply I think that it is
worthwhile to consider these questions in the next parliamentary
election. If we want to have more progress in this country, remain
competitive in the region, we need to seek new resources. And there
are resources. We need serious reforms, the second generation of
reforms to revive them, make them active. I’m not criticizing anyone.
The government did what it did and goes on doing. The problem is that
the next generation of the leaders, the political forces, who will be
ruling the country, must pay attention to these problems first of
all,’ says Vardan Oskanyan.