OSKANIAN SACKS SIX DIPLOMATS FOR SUPPORTING EX-PRESIDENT
ARMENPRESS
Feb 25, 2008
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian was
expected today to formally fire six senior officials of the foreign
ministry after they Sunday publicly condemned their government’s
handling of the February 19 presidential election and joined the
former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.
Speaking to journalists today Oskanian said all were sacked for
violating the law that bars diplomats from making such statements.
In a joint statement read out at a Ter-Petrosian rally on Friday,
the foreign ministry officials said they were `outraged’ at serious
fraud which they said prevented the vote from being `civilized, free
and fair.’ `Only by acting in conformity with the letter and spirit
of the law can we create democracy and tolerance in Armenia and earn
the country a good reputation abroad,’ they said.
The statement’s signatories included the chief foreign ministry
spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian, and the heads of the ministry’s NATO,
North America and United Nations desks.
Oskanian admitted today it was a painful decision for him to dismiss
these people who he said are all skilled diplomats.
Oskanian also spoke about two ambassadors and one deputy foreign
minister, who were sacked by president Kocharian earlier and stripped
of their diplomatic ranks for voicing their support to Ter-Petrosian.
"These diplomats supported the man who was criticizing the government
throughout his election campaign. How could the president who appointed
them (ambassadors) to these posts, tolerate their dissent," Oskanian
asked.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
