U.S. ELECTION NOT TO AFFECT WASHINGTON’S POLICY IN ARMENIA

Armenpress
Nov 08 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Anthony F. Godfrey, Deputy Chief
of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said today the outcome of
Tuesday Congressional and Senate elections in his country will have
no impact on Washington’s Armenian policy.

He said the U.S. government will continue to support Armenia’s
democratic advance and reforms.

According to the latest news, Democrats swept Republicans from power in
the U.S. House of Representatives and moved to the brink of capturing
the Senate, where their final victory could be delayed for weeks by
a possible recount in Virginia.

Democrats rolled up gains of about 30 seats in the House in Tuesday’s
elections. Democrats picked up four of the six Senate seats they needed
for a majority and led in the race for the other two in Montana and
Virginia, threatening to take control of both chambers of Congress
for the first time in 12 years. An expected recount and possible
legal challenges in Virginia could delay a final result. Democratic
control of the House will make outspoken liberal Rep. Nancy Pelosi
the first female Speaker.

Mr. Godfrey said in Yerevan the new Congress will not seek to force
president Bush to step down. He said when the House is under the
command of Democrats and the White House is controlled by Republicans
the USA moves steadily ahead." Mr. Godfrey said Richard Hoagland
is the sole designate ambassador to take up the embassy in Yerevan
after former ambassador John Evans was recalled before the end of
his official tenure in office.

It also emerged that Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger won a
spectacular election sequel in California where thousands of Armenians
cast their ballots in his favor. California governor was returned to
office after routing Democrat rival Phil Angelides, with projected
figures handing the Austrian-born former bodybuilder around 63 percent
of the vote.