PM SAYS OPPOSITION RESPONDED TO CALL FOR COOPERATION

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 28, 2008

Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the winner in the Armenian presidential
election, said the opposition had responded to his call for
cooperation.

I said yesterday what kind of cooperation I am proposing – up to the
formation of a coalition government. The opposition has responded
and work has been launched today, Sargsyan told the parliament on
Wednesday.

Sargsyan urged all those prepared for cooperation to respond and then
everything will move into the field of practical work, he said.

The authorities were prepared to cooperate with all opposition forces
for the benefit of Armenia, Sargsyan told a rally of supporters on
Republic Square in Yerevan on Wednesday.

President Robert Kocharian said in turn in an interview with Public
Television that the new government could be formed on the basis of
a broad coalition.

The president-elect said he wanted to be president for the entire
nation, not only for those who had cast their ballots for him. I do
not doubt that this will be so. By all accounts, the formation of a new
government will involve broad political forces, not only the Republican
Party and the Prosperous Armenia parties, the president said.

Sargsyan also pledged to ban the possession of illegal weapons.

The circulation of weapons has been expanding, and I must promise
you that the illegal possession of weapons must be absolutely banned
in this country. All citizens are equal for me. Illegal weapons are
illegal, whether a political figure, a deputy, or representatives of
the Yerkrap Union [of Karabakh war veterans] possess them, he said.

Illegally held weapons have always been seized, he added.

Concerning accusations against former Deputy Prosecutor General Gagik
Dzhangirian, Sargsyan said he does not consider him a political figure.

The Armenian police earlier informed Interfax that Dzhangirian had been
charged with illegal acquisition, sale, possession and transportation
of weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices, committing
violence against officials.

Dzhangirian, his brother Vardan, their driver and aide were detained
on February 23 by police officials from the Main Department for
Combating Organized Crime. Firearms, a knife, handcuffs and a bullet-
proof jacket were discovered in their two cars. The aide and driver
were released.

Dzhangirian was relieved of his duties on February 23 and stripped
of his rank as a lawyer.

Earlier, he had backed presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, who
was defeated in the election, at an opposition rally. The prosecutor
general had asked the president to dismiss Dzhangirian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress