WE WILL NOT HAVE OFFICIAL ANTHEM FOR SEVERAL DAYS

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 7 2006

How will the problem of the national anthem be solved? After 24:00
December 6 we will not have an official anthem?

You are right to raise this question. Unfortunately, we did not
manage the second and third readings at the National Assembly. For a
few days, officially, legally, we will not have an anthem but these
few days will not affect the activities of the state. We will try to
hold an extraordinary meeting to solve this problem.

What was the reason not to do it in time? Was it a complicated problem?

You must remember the debates. I think, the National Assembly did
not have enough time, and we could not speed up the solution of the
problem. There were shortcomings, both at the National Assembly and
the government.

The Orinats Yerkir Party retired from the coalition, and now the
controversies you had are being exposed. Is it good that you broke
relations with Orinats Yerkir?

Let us not try to assess the past. Over those three years we have
done everything together. If there were controversies, these did not
obstruct the implementation of the government policy. The Orinats
Yerkir Party found that these controversies were too many and
cooperation was impossible, so it withdrew.

Aram Sargsyan has invited you and the defense minister to run in the
election from the same constituency with him, for he believes that
you will never let him commit electoral fraud to win.

There are a number of offers. Aram’s offer is just one of them. I
have to think whose offer to accept.

Will you remain prime minister if you win the parliamentary election
in 2007?

I suggest you ask me this question after the election, as soon as it
becomes known how many votes the political parties will have got.

Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to Robert Kocharyan has stated that Serge
Sargsyan is the preferable presidential candidate.

We have stated for a number of times that the Republican Party is not
considering a presidential candidate yet, and we will speak about it
at a more convenient time. And the convenient time is the parliamentary
election 2007.

The opposition is initiating different movements. What is your
attitude?

I think it is good. There has been enough talking. It is time to work,
to be in movement. The problem is how may movements there will be,
who will participate.

Why was the business forum cancelled during your visit to Moscow?

The purpose of my visit to Moscow was the official closing of
the Armenian year in Russia. We were not holding a meeting of the
intergovernmental commission. The Russian party wanted to hold it as
well but then they changed their mind. We are ready to hold business
forums at the Armenian expo hall at any time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress