The Armenian President, Mr Robert Kocharyan, has announced his intention to resign as soon as a new government is installed and the situation in the country returns to normal, after the shooting of the prime minister and seven other people in parliament last Wednesday, writes Michael Jansen. Armenpress News Agency reported yesterday that he stated he would step down during a meeting with parliamentarians on Thursday.
The former Communists, who hold 40 per cent of the seats in the National Assembly, and the Dashnak Socialists promptly rejected his offer.
Mr Kocharyan, an independent, has been President since 1998. He had previously served as prime minister. Dr Antranik Ashdjian, chairman of the Dashnak-affiliated Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, said that Armenia could not afford to lose Mr Kocharyan.