ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES SITUATION WITH OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE’S SPECIAL ENVOY

ARMENPRESS
March 3, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian received
March 2 evening Heikki Talvitie, a special representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Kocharian’s press office said the main topic of their conversation
was the situation in Armenia that has emerged after opposition-caused
unrest the day before.

Kocharian was reported to present what had happened. He was also quoted
by his press office as saying what had happened in the Armenian capital
in the last days was hard to be called politics or a political process.

Saying that the government is resolute to reestablish order and law,
Kocharian added, "Legal issues must be solved within legal framework
and all masterminds of the unrest and unlawful actions will be called
to account."

In a reference to imposing a 20-day state of emergency in Yerevan
Robert Kocharian said it is aimed in the first place at ensuring
public security.

"We have tried to impose as few restrictions as possible in order
not to abuse the citizens’ basic rights," he was quoted as saying.

The sides expressed hope that the political turmoil in Armenia will be
overcome soon and the authorities will succeed in restoring stability
and order.

Heikki Talvitie was also received the same day by president-elect,
prime minister Serzh Sarkisian.

The government press office said the first ting Talvitie did was to
congratulate Sarkisian on his election as next president of Armenia
and wish him success in his future tenure.

Then they spoke at large about the situation after public unrest
in Yerevan and clashes between security troops and opposition
demonstrators and ways out of it.

Talvitie said he is to meet also here with both government officials
and opposition leaders. He said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office conveyed
his wish that the situation does not exacerbate further and that the
sides start looking for a way out through dialogue and political talks.

Serzh Sarkisian was quoted as saying that the government is interested
in reinstating stability and order stressing that the authorities
had been urging tolerance and remaining within the boundaries of law
proposing also cooperation to all sides.

He said the organizers of the unnourished rally had done everything
to stir up unrest and clashes

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress