ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO GO ON LEAVE IF HE HEADS ACTING PRESIDENT ELECTION HEADQUARTERS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian defense minister Serge Sargsian will probably go on a three-month leave if he heads the electoral headquarters of the acting Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who is running for president at the coming elections to be held February 19, 2003. "Such a long-term leave is due to me, as I did not rest within the past two years," - he said. During this period, as provided for by the law, deputy defense minister of Armenia, chief of the general staff of the country armed forces Mikayel Harutyunian will arrange the army affairs. Speaking of the legal ban for the military to interfere in election processes, the minister emphasized that he was not a military man, but a civilian. "If I had had straps, I would not be occupied with politics," - he stated. The minister considers his nomination for the chief of Robert Kocharian's electoral headquarters as an additional bail for army non-intervention in the process of elections.