PM: RUMORS ABOUT LIKELY REPLACEMENT OF PRIME MINISTER AIM AT INCAPACITATING GOVERNMENT

ARKA
Sep 26, 2008

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Rumors about likely replacement of
the prime minister are being disseminated in an apparent attempt to
weakening the Government, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
said Thursday on Public Television.

Rumors are going around about possible ousting Tigran Sargsyan from
his premier-ministerial seat and handing it over to former president
Robert Kocharyan.

Sargsyan said that these rumors’ authors display disrespect toward
both the premier and the former president.

"We must appreciate politicians and statesmen such as Robert Kocharyan.

I think he is one of those politicians whose names will remain forever
on the books of time", Sargsyan said in his televised address.

He said that Kocharyan has held premier-ministerial post and presidency
in two independent states – Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in
the most difficult years for both countries – war and post-war period
and recovered war-stricken economy.

Sargsyan said that Kocharyan, for years in office, has proven to be
an extraordinary politician and leader.

He finds "any insulting statements addressed to the president
unacceptable".

Commenting on allegations that the premiership is a temporary position,
Sargsyan said that one decade ago, when he took up Central Bank
chairmanship, rumors about his replacement w ere going around as well.

"This temporary period lasted ten years", he said.

He said that the premiership is not eternal. But certain time is
needed to enable the premier to do due job.

"It is dangerous, when an official starts thinking over the matter. He
shouldn’t care about these gossips, since they can destroy him",
Sargsyan said.