SERGE SARGSIAN: "WE HAVE NEVER USED ARMY IN POLITICS"

Noyan Tapan
March 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. "We have never used the army in
the politics," Serge Sargsian, the Prime Minister and newly-elected
President of the Republic of Armenia, declared in response to the
questions of citizens by the Public TV. He also mentioned that the
army has always operated and will operate within the frameworks of
the Constitution and the laws of Armenia. "If you speak about today,
the regime of the state of emergency, of course, is being implemented
by the army and this is completely in keeping with the Constitution
and the functions of the army in states of emergency," he said.

In response to the question of how he is going to treat General Manvel
Grigorian, Serge Sargsian mentioned that the circumstances should be
clarified and the problem should be settled. "General Manvel Grigorian
is my companion-in-arms. Moreover, his wife Nazik was also fighting
with us then.

I have never tried to involve Manvel Grigorian into politics and I
very much repent and feel sorry that he, I do not know why, tried to
enter politics and tried not to obey the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,"
Serge Sargsian said.