On the other hand, in last year’s parliamentary election the Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia staged rather big concerts as part of their campaign which involved Russian pop stars so it might happen again closer to the end of the pre-election campaign period.

The Armenian Observer also says that he’s heard rumors that System of a Down’s Serj Tankian might perform in support of Vahan Hovannisian although there has been no official or unofficial confirmation of that yet.

2008-01-26 20:24:00
Serzh Sargsyan: I will never give cause to anyone voting for me to regret

ArmInfo. “I’ll never give cause to anyone voting for me to regret”, Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, and currently a presidential candidate, Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with the residents of Nork-Marash community of Yerevan, Saturday.

According to him, the main resource of Armenia’s development is the Armenian people, who live not only in Armenia. “There is a program to create a special body which will take up the issues of Diaspora. I spoke about this during the past parliamentary election”, he said, adding: “If we manage to use 15% of our compatriots’ opportunities, we’ll be twice as strong as without them”. Touching upon science and education, Sargsyan stressed that the state budget of 2008 stipulates $400 mln for the sphere of education and science. “The best way to become wealthy in the 21st century is to have knowledge and education. Our institutions of higher education shouldn’t differ from European ones”, he said.

2008-01-26 20:22:00
Serzh Sargsyan: It is gradually getting uncomfortable to live in Yerevan

ArmInfo. It is gradually getting uncomfortable to live in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, and currently a presidential candidate, Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with the residents of Kentron community of Yerevan, Saturday.

“The regulation of traffic in Yerevan is still a problem. At the moment, the traffic in the capital of Armenia is so heavy that we’ll have to move some departmental functions from the capital to the regions, e.g. the ministries and other departments”, he said. The prime minister said that he is well aware of all problems of Yerevan and added that all necessary measures are being taken to solve these problems. “We increase the funds for settlement of communal and other problems with every passing year”, Sargsyan said. However, the population’s support also plays an important role here, he added.

2008-01-26 20:19:00
Serzh Sargsyan: Even in Soviet times high-ranking officials didn’t dare to solve the problem of Kond district in Yerevan

ArmInfo. “Even in Soviet times high-ranking officials didn’t dare to solve the problem of Kond district in Yerevan”, Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, and currently a presidential candidate, Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with the residents of Kentron community of Yerevan, Saturday.

According to him, at the moment all the residents of Kond district are pleased with the fact that Kond is acquiring a new appearance and becoming one of the best districts of Yerevan. “Certainly, there are also displeased people, who built their houses after 2001 and are still building, which is illogical and inadmissible”, Sargsyan said. He also stressed that the tasks of Yerevan should always be in the focus of the Armenian president’s attention. Touching upon the draft law “On Yerevan” under which the mayor of Yerevan is to be elected, Sargsyan noted: “This draft law was approved by the National Assembly in the first reading and will be adopted in the final reading during the spring session”. Sargsyan thinks that a rough mistake was made at the beginning of the state’s establishment - Yerevan was divided into communities. “The elected mayor should unambiguously belong to or supported by some party”, the prime minister said.

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