Armenia leader expresses condolences over Niyazov death
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 21, 2006 Thursday 03:14 PM EST
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan expressed on Thursday condolences
to the government of Turkmenistan in connection with the death of
President Saparmurat Niyazov.
"Armenia learned with profound grief the news about a sudden death
of President Saparmurat Niyazov," said a message circulated by the
president’s press service.
"Niyazov was at the origins of the formation of an independent
Turkmenistan and was its permanent leader," Kocharyan said.
"We highly appreciate his contribution to the strengthening and
development of Armenia-Turkmenistan relations," the Armenian leader
stressed. He is confident that "the people of Turkmenistan will keep
making every effort for the sake of prosperity of their Fatherland
as well as the strengthening of statehood and independence" of their
country.