VIKTOR SOGHOMONYAN: INCITERS, ORGANIZERS AND PERPETRATORS OF TEH EVENTS OF MARCH 1ST WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

armradio.am
04.03.2008 18:20

"The law enforcement bodies periodically report the situation to
the President. Until now there has been no violation of the state
of emergency has been registered," RA President’s Spokesman Viktor
Soghomonyan told a press conference in Yerevan today. He noted that
the situation is fully controlled and the corresponding bodies will
periodically provide complete information to journalists.

Viktor Soghomonyan stated that he does not see any possibility for
a dialogue with Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

"Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Heikki Talvitie
already spoke on impossibility of a dialogue at the moment. The
possibility of a dialogue was present before and right after the
elections. However, the staff of Ter-Petrosyan rejected any possibility
of compromise or talks.

After what happened in Yerevan on March 1, I do not see a possibility
of a dialogue. I do not imagine what dialogue one can have with a
person, 30 supporters of which were beating one policeman," Viktor
Soghomonian stated.

"Levon Ter-Petrosian and the members of his team should realize that
they bear the whole responsibility for what happened in Yerevan
on March 1 and for the human losses," Spokesman of the Armenian
President stressed.

"All the organizers, instigators and executors of the unrest
will be punished to full severity of the law", Viktor Soghomonyan
stated, answering the question on the possibility of bringing Levon
Ter-Petrosian to criminal responsibility.

"On March 1, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia already talked
about this – State Protection Service considers it inexpedient for
Ter-Petrosian to leave his house. However, he can sign any time the
document on renouncing the services of state protection and in that
case no one will hinder his movement", Viktor Soghomonyan stated.

The Spokesman of the President noted that "the soon abolition of the
state of emergency meets the interests of all the citizens of Armenia."

Noting that the decree on state of emergency was signed by the
President on March 1 for the term of 20 days, Viktor Soghomonyan stated
that the decision on possible abolition of the state of emergency prior
to the given date will depend on the "development of the situation."

Viktor Soghomonyan refuted the statements, according to which in
reality the number of victims exceeded eight.

"This is another blatant lie, which we evidenced repeatedly in the
course of the recent few months. The very lie was the basis for the
pre-election campaign of Ter-Petrosyan," Viktor Soghomonyan stressed.

Spokesman of the Armenian President refuted the statements and the
claims of Ter-Petrosyan, according to which he allegedly held talks
with the authorities the night of March 2nd.

"This is another lie. I believe that within the coming you will have
the opportunity to communicate with the President of Armenia, and I
propose you to ask the question on those claims of Ter-Petrosian to
the President. I am sure that he will have some things to tell you,"
Viktor Soghomonyan told the journalists.