Jan Kubis: The Armenian Presidential Election Was A Step Forward

JAN KUBIS: THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS A STEP FORWARD

armradio.am
25.02.2008 15:24

"The newly elected President of Armenia is well familiar with the
negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement and the content
of the document on the bargaining table. We will not lose time and
will quickly restart the talks, hoping to register additional progress
before the presidential elections in Azerbaijan," RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian said during today’s join press conference with the
President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Jan Kubis.

Minister Oskanian informed that after the official proclamation of
the election results, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs demonstrate the
intention to organize the first meeting. Serge Sargsyan will assume
RA President’s office on April 9, and according to Oskanian, the EU
Special Representative has also called on the new President and the
President of Azerbaijan to have a meeting in the near future.

The President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Jan Kubis declared that the "presidential
elections in Armenia were a step forward." Mr. Kubis said this is
evidenced by the preliminary conclusion of the International Election
Observation Mission, which included representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR
and the Council of Europe.

The Slovenian President noted that the Armenian authorities
"demonstrate restraint and behave in a responsible way" in the
post-election period.

Jan Kubis expressed hope that all participants of the political
processes in Armenia will refrain from violence and conflict.

The President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
expressed hope that the Armenian authorities will react to the
remarks of the international observers in due time. In particular,
he welcomed the recount of votes at some precincts.