PanARMENIAN.Net

Sargsyan: like U.S, authorities of Armenia will keep on combating extremists
07.03.2008 13:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair
Matthew Bryza. The meeting was attended by U.S. Charge d’Affaires in
Armenia Joseph Pennington and Embassy Adviser on Political and
Economic Issues Steven Banks, the RA government’s press office
reported.

With reference to the post-election situation in Armenia, the parties
have touched upon the ways out of it. They have also discussed the
efforts for averting ceasefire breaches like the one that occurred on
March 4 in the contact line between the NKR and Azerbaijan and the
issue of the Armenian-Turkish relationship settlement.

In presenting the objectives behind his visit, Mr. Bryza said that he
had a mission on the part of the U.S. Secretary of State to get a
first-hand view of the situation at hand by meeting representatives of
different sides, as well as to forward specific messages. Mr. Bryza
further advised that before this meeting he was able to hear on TV the
Prime Minister’s constructive remarks made at today’s cabinet session
and was very pleased with the highlights of his statement. "This is
just what I expected to hear from you at this meeting, but to my
satisfaction you have already voiced them," Mr. Bryza said.

According to him, it is time to ease the current tension, anyone
should show great sense of responsibility by realizing that Armenia
must recover those assets gained before this situation. Speaking about
the state of emergency, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
mentioned that it cannot last endlessly and now efforts have to be
made towards this end. Matthew Bryza agreed with the prime minister in
that the state of emergency is really an instrument that helps ease
tensions and direct processes towards a natural course. He stressed
that it is impossible to move along the path of democracy unless there
is law and order in the country.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that the statement made at today’s session was
not an extraordinary one. `I said what I used to say for the past few
months. He stressed that work should be continued with those desirous
of cooperating with the authorities. He further mentioned that either
those who do not want to do so are Armenian citizens and may think
anything within the bounds of law, but if they commit offences they
must answer for their deeds before the law. He went on to note that,
like the United States, the authorities of Armenia will keep on
fighting against extremists. According to the Prime Minister,
objectively formulated and unbiased estimates must be issued on all
sides if the situation is to be stabilized. "I deem we have still much
to do and will of course strive for stabilizing the situation in the
country and continuing reforms. I am confident in success. All we need
at this point is public order," Serzh Sargsyan said.

During the meeting, Mr Bryza said he had had the opportunity of
knowing better Serzh Sargsyan by discussing with him questions high on
the bilateral agenda. "You are a special leader. We support you in
principle. The U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Armenia and I believe that
you have the kind of vision and approaches that we want to see in the
implementation of joint programs. We want you to succeed and we want
Armenia to succeed," he said.
From: Baghdasarian