MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: press@mfa.am

Minis ter Oskanian Explains Diplomatic Dismissals

President Robert Kocharian relieved three ambassadors of their posts and
ranks, and Minister Vartan Oskanian relieved another seven diplomats, all
for acting in contradiction to Armenia’s law on diplomatic service.
Reporters asked the Minister to explain these developments.

Minister Oskanian responded, `Those holding positions in the diplomatic
service do not have the right to take public political positions. This
contradicts the law of the Republic. Beyond the ambassadors who were
relieved of their posts by the President, there were six others at the
Ministry, who were relieved by me, today. For the same reason – the law
precludes a diplomat’s engagement in political activity.

`Regarding the ambassadors who were relieved of their positions, let me say
this. Those ambassadors joined a movement whose leader, during the entire
campaign, clearly and repeatedly labeled this state a `kleptocracy’ and the
President, `the gang leader.’ How do you imagine that these ambassadors who
represent this president and this state would continue to work, if they
obviously agree with that label?

`Second, if we look at those who have been released from their positions,
there are those who are deeply connected to the former administration, they
are either friends or old colleagues, they are either related to high-level
officials, or were high-level officials themselves in the former
administration. And here’s the pity. Because they struck, first of all, at
tolerance. When President Kocharian came to office, he articulated a clear
policy: we don’t touch our cadres. Ambassadors grow into their positions,
they’re not born into them. We invest in our cadres, so long as they have
decided to serve the state, this is the normal state of affairs in normal
countries. So, this action was an assault on tolerance. That is what hurts
me most. It pained me to sign those orders, and to hear the president’s
orders being read on TV. I view this as a strike at our institution, at
something that we had suceeded in embedding in our ministry. Not only did
they continue to work, but they had continued to rise in the ranks, without
experiencing any discrimination. It is exactly these people who should have
been the last to resort to such a step. But unfortunately, they somehow
succumbed.

`I’ve been asked whether there other people in the same category? I’m not
even going to try to find out. Our principles will not change. There won’t
be a witchhunt. Those who have not made public announcements will continue
to work. Just because some have broken the law, doesn’t mean we will.’