GELAP’S SURVEYS DO NOT INSPIRE OSKANYAN

A1+
[07:10 pm] 06 September, 2007

"Who wants to run for presidency declares about it.

If I do not declare about it, it means I do not want to be a
presidential candidate", responded the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Oskanyan to the question of A1+. Mr Oskanyan was reminded
the results of the surveys of Gelap sociological center, according
to which if the presidential elections were held this Sunday in
Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan would become the president. In respond to
this, the Minister said: "The results of the surveys of Gelap are
interesting. But I am not interested in it; I do not even know the
numbers, though it’s really interesting. But it does not inspire me
to make me made a decision based on it".

However hard the journalists try to find out under which circumstances
Oskanyan would agree to run for presidency, in vain. Vardan Oskanyan
is ready to officiate as the Minister of Foreign Affairs till 2008
presidential elections.

Today the main theme was the meetings in Brussels where Vardan Oskanyan
met the chairs of NATO and the European Union. The Minister highly
estimated the processes of individual collaboration both with EU’s
"New Neighborhood Policy" and with NATO. "Important steps are taken
to facilitate the acquisition of visa to Europe for the Armenian
citizens".

During the meetings the parties discussed the measures that would
make the European markets attainable and available for Armenian
producers. Vardan Oskanyan is also content with NATO-Armenia
cooperation. "There is one fact that hampers the dynamic process of
cooperation with NATO within the frameworks of Individual collaboration
program. It refers to the civilization of Armenian defense system,
which is to be carried out through legislative amendments. That is
to say the civil service should be related to defense system. I see
no problem in this regard. In my opinion that process is going on
regular basis, but slowly.

Naturally such amendments are not easy to carry out, the system always
shows resistance".