VARDAN OSKANYAN WILL DECIDE AFTER THE HOLIDAY

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 19 2006

The Armenian foreign minister’s statement made earlier that a minister
should not remain in office for more than a decade does not mean
that the foreign minister is likely to quit politics. Vardan Oskanyan
personally stated this December 19 at the Friday Club. He explained
what he had meant in speaking about his intention to quit office.

"It was a natural reaction, when a new president is elected, a new
president would like to have his foreign minister. I think this is
natural. I meant this when I made this statement. There were different
interpretations that Oskanyan is reluctant, he is tired of politics,
he wants to quit," Vardan Oskanyan says.

He thinks that he has much to do in Armenia, therefore he will try
to remain in politics. "I will try to remain in politics, because
sometimes the wish and the reality are different. My wish is to remain
in politics, to make my contribution, and time will show if I will
stay in politics," Vardan Oskanyan says.

Considering that President Robert Kocharyan mentioned the possible
political parties on December 15 who will be forming government,
namely the Republican Party, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the United Labor
Party and Bargavach Hayastan, the news reporters asked if the foreign
minister will affiliate with one of these four political parties in
the new year to remain in politics. "I find it difficult to say. I
haven’t got any offers from these political parties, and I have not
made any requests either. I am not considering this question yet. I
need time to think. After the holidays, when the political sphere
becomes more clear, it will be possible to decide how to continue
activities in the political sphere," Vardan Oskanyan says.