PETER SEMNEBY: EU WILL ASSIST ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN OVERCOMING CURRENT CHALLENGES

Noyan Tapan
April 9, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Newly elected Armenian President
Serge Sargsian is assuming his post in a period very important for
the country: under conditions of many challenges. Peter Semneby,
the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, taking part
in the April 9 inauguration ceremony of the RA President said in his
interview to journalists.

Congratulating the Armenian President on behalf of the European
Union, he said: "This is a very important day and I expect positive
developments in the coming days and weeks."

According to P. Semneby, EU will assist the new President in the
issue of overcoming the current challenges as far as possible. He
first of all attached importance to overcoming the consequences of
the March 1 events, mentioning that some steps have been already done
in that direction.

The EU Special Representative said that a dialogue should be launched
between different political forces, steps should be taken to release
people from custody, to restore freedom of gatherings, etc. "We
are ready to make our contribution in solution of these problems. I
have personally often visited Armenia lately, spoke to members of
government, former and current Presidents, Levon Ter-Petrosian, and
other representatives of the opposition," P. Semneby said. According
to him, it is very important that the dialogue continue not only
through mediators, but immediately between principal players in the
Armenian political sphere.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress