VATICAN NO 2 SCRAPS ARMENIA VISIT
German Press Agency
March 2 2008
Vatican City – The Vatican’s second highest official Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone cancelled his trip Sunday to Armenia owing to unrest
in the country, the Vatican said. "In consideration of the situation
in Armenia following the protests and the government’s declaration of
a state of emergency, His Eminence Cardinal Bertone will not depart
today for Yerevan", the Vatican said in a statement.
"However the visit… could still take place in the coming days with
a changed programme," the statement said.
It also confirmed that Bertone’s visit scheduled March 6-9 visit to
Armenia’s neighbour Azerbaijan would go ahead as planned.
At least eight people were killed overnight in unrest in Armenia where
a 20-day state of emergency was declared by outgoing President Robert
Kocharian following protests by demonstrators who allege the February
19 presidential election was rigged.