RA FOREIGN MINISTER DISAPPOINTED WITH ACTIONS OF LOCAL DIPLOMATS WHO SIGNED STATEMENT CONCERNING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND POST-ELECTION SITUATION IN ARMENIA
arminfo
2008-02-25 10:20:00
ArmInfo. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is disappointed with
the local diplomats’ actions who signed the statement concerning
the post-election situation in Armenia. To recall, on February 23,
deputy FM of Armenia Armen Bayburdyan, as well as RA Ambassadors
to Italy, Spain and Portugal Ruben Shugaryan, Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan Levon Khachatryan and Envoy of Armenia to Moldova and
Ukraine Razmik Khumaryan signed under the statement concerning the
presidential election in Armenia and the post-election situation
in the country. They were discharged from their diplomatic posts
and deprived of diplomatic ranks be RA President Robert Kocharyan’s
February 23 decree. On February 24, six employees more of RA Foreign
Ministry joined those having signed the statement.
Commenting on this situation today, at request of ArmInfo
correspondent, V. Oskanyan said that they roughly violated, by their
actions, the provisions of the law on diplomatic service. He also
said that he knew about the occurrence with a sore heart, however,
he completely supports the president’s actions. Moreover, the minister
said that he intends to sign an order today on firing of 6 FM employees
who joined the statement. He said that the ambassadors and diplomats
are not born but become. "The state wastes time and means for their
growing, and what instead? They joined the Movement, headed by a man
who calls Armenia a robber’s state and the president – its head and
chief robber. It means they agree with it? So, what the president
had to do as not to sign a relevant decree", Oskanyan said. He also
said that all the ten diplomats, who signed the statement, have kin
or other relations either with Levon Ter-Petrosyan personally or the
representatives of his former administration. "However, we esteem
our personnel, therefore, after Robert Kocharyan coming to power,
his administration kept on trusting them, appointing the highest and
responsible diplomatic posts. Meanwhile, they hit, by their actions,
the image of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process,
as well as the fight against intolerance inside the country", RA
FM said.
He emphasized that the meetings, demonstrations and other protest
actions are demonstration of democracy and contains nothing
bad. However, when the Central Election Commission publishes the
final data and it becomes clear that one party has finally lost,
that party continues to demonstrate intolerance, instead of offering
its hand, and it becomes clear that it pursues quite another aims. "I
urge those at Liberty Square to appeal to the Constitutional Court –
it will be perceived positively, and stop the attempts of splitting
the state from inside, it stands firmly", the minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
