MOSCOW REPORTEDLY AGAINST ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER BECOMING PRESIDENT

Iravunk, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

"Will Robert Kocharyan become the CIS secretary?"

According to our Russian source, during [Armenian President Robert]
Kocharyan’s visit to Moscow [on 30-31 October], [Russian President]
Vladimir Putin suggested that Kocharyan occupy the post of CIS
secretary until "the level of control is sufficient in the country".

The source did not specify what Kocharyan replied but said that
Kocharyan’s visit to Moscow could not be considered as successful
since his suggestion that [Armenian Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan
take over from him as president was turned down.

According to the same source, in Moscow Robert Kocharyan attended
the wedding party of the Armenian ambassador to Russia, Armen Smbatyan.