Armenia's Sarkissian comments on possible snap elections, his relations with PM Pashinyan, reporters
The issue of holding snap parliamentary elections in Armenia should be discussed and resolved in the National Assembly, President Armen Sarkissian told reporters on Thursday.
According to Mr Sarkissian, there are two key subjects that are to make a decision over the issue – the Armenian people and the people’s respective body in the National Assembly.
“If such a decision is adopted, the President’s duties will be to do everything possible within his powers to make sure the elections are fair and just,” he said.
Asked whether there are political prisoners in the country, the president said:” There should be no political prisoners in Armenia.”
Armen Sarkissian noted that he had received documents from human rights organizations in this regard and they will soon be submitted to the relevant ministries. “Now we need to wait for the Armenian government to make decisions if there are some assessments regarding the amnesty,” he said.
Commenting on the question whether it is easy to work with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the president said: “In the person of Nikol Pashinyan, I discovered for myself a talented, quick-thinking, willing and diligent person, with whom I pursue very good working relations. My impression is we have bilateral respectful and constructive working relations. I do not spot any problem in working with him; on the contrary, I believe we can successfully work together.”
Mr Sarkissian was also asked to speak about his recent meeting with the children. “The president should feel like a child with children, should behave like a teenager with teenagers, talking to them and dancing with them if needed," he sad.
"He should act like an adult with adults and like a soldier with soldiers, however I do not know how he should behave himself with reporters, maybe we should be free and frank and reply to the questions. When I cease to be President I can say what you want me to say, now I have to say what is right and is within the scope of the President’s powers,” the president concluded.
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