Tweet
SOBER EXPLANATION: ARMENIAN PM ON RECENT SCANDALS, INCLUDING HIS ALLEGED "DRUNK" SPEECH VIDEO
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
17.11.11 | 14:54
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has dismissed allegations that he
was drunk while delivering a speech to a large audience at a recent
public event, insisting that the misperception was the result of
"sound problems".
Talking to media while visiting the National Assembly on Wednesday,
the head of the Armenian government said the footage shown by Public
TV on which he was shown addressing an audience at Yerevan's Sports
and Concert Complex while appearing tipsy, in fact was a matter of
technical illusion.
TV viewers and those who watched the video later online could hear
Sargsyan omitting endings in some of the words and pronouncing some
words in an odd manner. Besides, his half-open eyes and smiling all the
time led some to conclude he had been under the influence of alcohol.
"That was purely a technical problem. Unfortunately, I wasn't drunk,"
Sargsyan rebuffed his critics in a joking manner.
"There was, indeed, a technical problem during that event, the stage
was right in front of our podium and the entire equipment, all the
microphones were at a distance. And when I began to speak, the echo
was so strong and it was hitting me back so that I simply couldn't
follow what I was saying. And that, of course, was the omission of
our team," explained Sargsyan, adding that he saw no "plot" against
him in the occurrence as alleged by some.
Earlier, Sargsyan's November 10 speech became one of the most debated
subjects on the Armenian segment of online social networking sites.
The premier had earlier disproved the allegation through his Facebook
page, saying he had himself been "amused" by the video.
At the briefing the prime minister, who is a senior member of
President Serzh Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
also answered the question concerning other topical issues of recent
days - the alleged beating of a businesswoman by Syunik Governor Surik
Khachatryan, an RPA member. He condemned the violence especially by
a man against a woman, but added that "while the investigation is on,
it is more appropriate to refrain from evaluations."
In commenting on the prospects of businessmen getting into the
parliament of the next convocation, Sargsyan stressed that "it is
the requirement of the Constitution and the law" that they must not
be there.
"I think a clear answer to this question was given by the president,
who has formulated the approaches of our party - we will realize this
norm enshrined in our Constitution step by step and should create
legal mechanisms for members of parliament not to engage in business,"
he said.
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
17.11.11 | 14:54
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has dismissed allegations that he
was drunk while delivering a speech to a large audience at a recent
public event, insisting that the misperception was the result of
"sound problems".
Talking to media while visiting the National Assembly on Wednesday,
the head of the Armenian government said the footage shown by Public
TV on which he was shown addressing an audience at Yerevan's Sports
and Concert Complex while appearing tipsy, in fact was a matter of
technical illusion.
TV viewers and those who watched the video later online could hear
Sargsyan omitting endings in some of the words and pronouncing some
words in an odd manner. Besides, his half-open eyes and smiling all the
time led some to conclude he had been under the influence of alcohol.
"That was purely a technical problem. Unfortunately, I wasn't drunk,"
Sargsyan rebuffed his critics in a joking manner.
"There was, indeed, a technical problem during that event, the stage
was right in front of our podium and the entire equipment, all the
microphones were at a distance. And when I began to speak, the echo
was so strong and it was hitting me back so that I simply couldn't
follow what I was saying. And that, of course, was the omission of
our team," explained Sargsyan, adding that he saw no "plot" against
him in the occurrence as alleged by some.
Earlier, Sargsyan's November 10 speech became one of the most debated
subjects on the Armenian segment of online social networking sites.
The premier had earlier disproved the allegation through his Facebook
page, saying he had himself been "amused" by the video.
At the briefing the prime minister, who is a senior member of
President Serzh Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
also answered the question concerning other topical issues of recent
days - the alleged beating of a businesswoman by Syunik Governor Surik
Khachatryan, an RPA member. He condemned the violence especially by
a man against a woman, but added that "while the investigation is on,
it is more appropriate to refrain from evaluations."
In commenting on the prospects of businessmen getting into the
parliament of the next convocation, Sargsyan stressed that "it is
the requirement of the Constitution and the law" that they must not
be there.
"I think a clear answer to this question was given by the president,
who has formulated the approaches of our party - we will realize this
norm enshrined in our Constitution step by step and should create
legal mechanisms for members of parliament not to engage in business,"
he said.