SERZH SARGSYAN: WE ARE READY TO COOPERATE AND HOLD OPEN AND DIRECT DISCUSSION WITH ALL THOSE WISHING DEVELOPMENT, STABILITY AND CONSOLIDATION OF ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-03-03 20:22:00

ArmInfo. "We are ready to cooperate and hold open and direct discussion
with all those wishing development, stability and consolidation of
Armenia, as well as welfare of the republic’s citizens", newly-elected
President, Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting
with a delegation headed by EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby.

The Armenian governmental press-service told ArmInfo that the
members of the delegation were Special Representative of the European
Commission to Armenia Raul de Luzenberger, EU Special Representatives’
political advisers on the South Caucasus Andrei Didenko and Rasa
Ostrauskaite, as well as French Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Serge Smessow.

The sides discussed the post-election situation in Armenia,
particularly, the disorders in Yerevan following unsanctioned rallies
and considered possible solutions to this situation. Semneby said that
all the sides had to express commitment to overcome this situation,
to stop further split of the society and to try to solve the problem
through a political dialogue.

Semneby said that they wished to bring the South Caucasus closer to
the EU and were ready to do all they could towards that end.

Sargsyan pointed that those who had committed crimes had to be
punished. He confirmed that he had urged the demonstrators for
cooperation. The authorities are presently negotiating with some
oppositionists and there is already certain progress. Sargsyan hopes
for tangible results in the coming days.