GEGHAM GHARIBJANYAN: AHMADINEJAD CUT SHORT THE VISIT BECAUSE OF URGENT DOMESTIC ISSUES
armradio.am
23.10.2007 17:45
"Upon the request of the Iranian side, the program of the President of
the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s official visit to
Armenia was somewhat changed connected with domestic problems. Some
visits were cancelled and at 12:00 Mr. Ahmadinejad left for Iran. I
had a talk with the Deputy Foreign Minister. He said there are urgent
problems and they must leave," said Gegham Gharibjanyan, RA Deputy
Foreign Minister and former Armenian Ambassador to Iran.
Let us remind that in compliance of the program of the official visit,
today Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was scheduled to visit Tsitsernakaberd
to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide
victims. He was set to attend the Blue Mosque and make a speech at
the National Assembly.
Gegham Gharibjanyan told journalists the reasons are known to the
Armenian authorities but he can’t tell the reporters. The Deputy
Foreign Minister only mentioned that it has nothing to do with Armenia.
Commenting on the visit of the Iranian President to Armenia, Mr.
Gharibjanyan assessed it as "very successful."
In response to the concerns about Mr. Ahmadinejad’s refusal to visit
Tsitsernakaberd, the Deputy Foreign Minister reminded that in 2004
ex-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Khatami visited
Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims.