ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS WELCOMING NEW PREMIER

ARKA
April 11, 2008

YEREVAN, April 11. /ARKA/. Armenian parliamentary factions voiced
approval over appointment of Tigran Sargsyan, former chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia, to the post of the prime minister.

The appointment came on the day of the inauguration of the new
president, Serge Sargsyan.

The candidacy of Tigran Sargsyan was put up by the president-led
Republican Party of Armenia.

Republican MP Rafik Petrosyan, speaking Friday at a briefing, said
the newly appointed premier will successfully run the government,
since he has a rich experience of directing the Central Bank.

"All international financial organizations and Russia say that an
accomplished banking system functions in Armenia now. This has been
done within the decade of Tigran Sargsyan’s staying in office",
Petrosyan said.

He said the necessity of further effective cooperation with
international organizations has been taken into account in the new
premier nomination.

Mher Shahgeldyan, an MP from Orinats Yerkir, the party that has
obtained membership in the ruling coalition, shared his colleague’s
opinion saying Tigran Sargsyan deserves the prime-ministerial seat,
since he has proven to be "a high professional able to develop and
modernize the structure".

Naira Zohrabyan, MP from Prosperous Armenia, one the four-party ruling
coalition member party, said that Republican Party enjoys the right to
nominate the prime minister, because it dominate the National Assembly.

Speaking on behalf of her party, she expressed willingness to work
with the new-appointed prime minister.

Hrayr Karapetyan, MP from Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun, the fourth party enjoying membership in the ruling
coalition, pointed out the fact that non-partisan Tigran Sargsyan
was unanimously nominated by Republicans as convincing evidence of
his merits.

Stepan Safaryan, MP from Zharangutyun (Heritage), opposition party,
said that for years in banking office, Tigran Sargsyan has displayed
ability to admit criticism and accept proposals.

Ð~Pt the same time, the lawmaker thinks that the new premier is not
"a strong figure, as it perceived in Armenia" – that’s why he will
face difficulties in coordinating the ruling coalition’s activity.

"Strong figure, according to Armenian perception, is a person everybody
is afraid of and nobody dares to criticize", Safaryan said.

He wished Sargsyan luck in the new mission.

–Boundary_(ID_QCewhXbabhU892IQNVwkDA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress