YEREVAN, Nov. 27 (ArmenPress) - Speaking to reporters last Friday, Armenian prime minister dismissed rumors that there were some contradictions between the president and him. He said that the six-month period of joint work had proved there were no grounds for such concerns. "There is no lack of confidence," the prime minister stressed.

As regards the date of putting into force the new amended electoral code, the prime minister that two dates, namely March 1, 2002 and January 1, 2003, were discussed during a meeting with political forces. The minister said that the Miasnutyun bloc, of which he is a member, favors the January 1, 2003 date.

The prime minister also dismissed rumors on imminent dissolution of the parliament, noting that even if it was disbanded, the fresh elections would be held in accordance with the old code, which "could hardly change the current distribution of forces in the parliament."

The 2001 will be the year of festivities devoted to the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity, and any political shock or uncertainty will hinder the proper celebration of one of the most important feasts, the prime minister noted. September 2002 will kick off the new presidential election campaign, which means that the president will not resort to a move, which is fraught with the creation of most unfavorable conditions for presidential elections, the prime minister said.

The prime minister also said that if the president dissolved the parliament in January, the country's economy would experience such a depression that no one would be able to drag it out. The parliament's dissolution would also affect those parties, which would try to back up the candidacy of the future president.

The prime minister assured that the president, who is the guarantor of the country's security and constitution, would not resort to such a move.