ARMENIAN SPEAKER POSTPONES VISIT TO IRAN

168 Zham
June 23 2009
Armenia

Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has postponed his visit to
Iran scheduled for 20-21 June, 168 Zham pro-opposition daily reported
on 23 June. The spokesman of the Armenian parliament speaker, Nairi
Petrosyan, said the visit was postponed at the request of the Iranian
side, but did not make it clear whether this is connected with the
political situation in Iran, 168 Zham reported. It was planned that
Abrahamyan would meet the Iranian president, the Majlis speaker and
other top officials during his visit.

The pro-opposition Haykakan Zhamanak daily said on 23 June that the
speaker "had been prohibited" to go to Iran by the Armenian Foreign
Ministry. However, Abrahamyan decided that no-one can "prohibit him
anything", went to the airport and received "a phone call from Iran"
just 10 minutes ahead of the flight, saying he will not be received
there if he arrives, Haykakan Zhamanak quoted its "government sources"
as saying.