VARTAN OSKANIAN SIGNED A DECREE ON DISMISSAL OF SIX EMPLOYEES OF THE ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, WHO SUPPORTED TER-PETROSIAN

Mediamax
February 25, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian signed
a decree today on dismissing six employees of the Foreign Ministry,
who supported the day before the Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

Mediamax reports that the Minister reminded that the Armenian law
"On diplomatic service" forbids the employees of the Ministry getting
involved in political activity. "Six our employees decided to break
this law and they were dismissed as a result", Vartan Oskanian stated.

At that, the Minister noted that he took up this step with regret,
since the Foreign Ministry lost good diplomats. "We have limited
resource, and the loss of each employee is noticeable for us", Vartan
Oskanian stated, noting that it takes quite a long period of time,
human and material resources to prepare diplomats.

Among the employees of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, who supported
Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, is the spokesman of the Foreign
Ministry Vladimir Karapetian and the head of the NATO Department
Marta Ayvazian.

What concerns the three Ambassadors and the Deputy Foreign Minister
of Armenia, relieved of the positions occupied by them and deprived
of the diplomatic rank by the decree of the President late last week,
Vartan Oskanian stated:

"I do not imagine how Ambassadors of Armenia, who are the
representatives of the President, could join a movement, the leader
of which describes our country as a "kleptocratic regime", and the
President – as the Head of the given regime".