KOCHARIAN DELAYS CHOICE OF NEW DEFENSE CHIEF
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 12 2007

President Robert Kocharian has re-appointed all but one members of
Armenia’s caretaker government, keeping vacant the crucial post of
defense minister.

In accordance with the Armenian constitution, the ministers tendered
their resignation immediately after the March 25 death of Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian. Kocharian asked them to continue to
perform their duties pending the formation of a new cabinet headed
by Serzh Sarkisian.

The constitution gives Sarkisian, who was named prime minister on
April 4, 20 days to form his cabinet and another 20 days to submit
its program to the National Assembly which has to approve or reject
it within five days. The outgoing legislature is unlikely to debate
the matter before formally completing its four-year tenure on May 12,
the date of Armenia’s next parliamentary elections. Sarkisian and
all government minister must also step down right after the vote.

Chairing a weekly cabinet session on Thursday, the new premier
congratulated the re-appointed ministers. A government statement quoted
him as saying that it would make no sense to replace any of them just
one month before the elections. Sarkisian also said his cabinet can not
be deemed officially formed until Kocharian appoints a defense minister
"within a time frame set by the law," according to the statement.

Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, the longtime chief of the
Armenian army’s General Staff, will thus remain Armenia’s acting
defense minister at least until April 24.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress