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`I SHALL NEVER STAND BEFORE ARMENIANS WITH A HANGING HEAD’
[05:24 pm] 01 February, 2008

Residents of Malatsia-Sebastia community received
presidential candidate Serzh Sarkissian rather
`coldly’ today.

Probably, the main reason for it was that most of the
presentees were schoolchildren who had rather come to
see their favourite singers than get familiarized with
Serzh Sarkissian’s pre-election programme.

One could also see employees of Malatsia fair among
the presentees who had been forced to attend the
meeting.

Armenian pop-singers entertained the presentees before
Serzh Sarkissian’s addressing speech. When finally the
Prime Minister showed up, the crowd began dispersing.

The Prime Minister said he had never dodged
responsibility and would never shirk it. `I shall
never stand with a hanging head before the Armenian
people,’ he said.

Afterwards, Serzh Sarkissian presented some economic
figures. `Armenia’s external debt mounts one milliard
360 million dollars today.’

According to the Prime Minister the sum is not great
if compared with those of other countries.

The Prime minister reiterated that `there is only one
official of Karabakh decent in Armenia.’ `To tell the
truth, the Artsakh people may scold me for my stance.
But they know quite well that while designating
someone I take into account two
characteristics-professional skills and humane
qualities.

The Prime Minister’s speech was occasionally
interrupted by shouts, `Onward, Armenia!’