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ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN ACCUSES TER-PETROSIAN OF LIES
Interfax News Agency
May 13 2008
Russia
Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharian has said that statements made
by former presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian that the clashes
between the law enforcement and the opposition on March 1 were staged
by the Armenian authorities were an "absolute lie."
"The statement by Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian that
the March 1 events in Yerevan were carefully planned by the current
authorities is an absolute lie. Only an indecent man can say that
the authorities were planning the use of force in advance," Kocharian
said in an interview with a national news agency.
On March 1 Ter-Petrosian's supporters, who defied the results of the
presidential election on February 19, clashed with law enforcement
forces in Yerevan. As a result of the violence 10 people died and
over 250 were injured.
"You have to understand who could be interested in this. Such clashes
with human casualties first of all have a negative effect on the
authorities. This is a blow to the authorities. Obviously, the opinion
that the authorities have not done enough to avoid civilian deaths
will always prevail. Such is the reality. It is real in situations
like this one even in European countries. In such cases the use of
force is something that authorities have to do in order to prevent even
harder consequences. Especially for me, I was an outgoing president,"
Kocharian said.
He also dismissed Ter-Petrosian's allegations that on March 1 foreign
diplomats assisted at the talks on finding ways to avoid serious
clashes between law enforcement authorities and the opposition.
Ter-Petrosian's supporters continue to challenge the presidential
election results. They are going to lodge a complaint with the European
Court of Human Rights.
Interfax News Agency
May 13 2008
Russia
Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharian has said that statements made
by former presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian that the clashes
between the law enforcement and the opposition on March 1 were staged
by the Armenian authorities were an "absolute lie."
"The statement by Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian that
the March 1 events in Yerevan were carefully planned by the current
authorities is an absolute lie. Only an indecent man can say that
the authorities were planning the use of force in advance," Kocharian
said in an interview with a national news agency.
On March 1 Ter-Petrosian's supporters, who defied the results of the
presidential election on February 19, clashed with law enforcement
forces in Yerevan. As a result of the violence 10 people died and
over 250 were injured.
"You have to understand who could be interested in this. Such clashes
with human casualties first of all have a negative effect on the
authorities. This is a blow to the authorities. Obviously, the opinion
that the authorities have not done enough to avoid civilian deaths
will always prevail. Such is the reality. It is real in situations
like this one even in European countries. In such cases the use of
force is something that authorities have to do in order to prevent even
harder consequences. Especially for me, I was an outgoing president,"
Kocharian said.
He also dismissed Ter-Petrosian's allegations that on March 1 foreign
diplomats assisted at the talks on finding ways to avoid serious
clashes between law enforcement authorities and the opposition.
Ter-Petrosian's supporters continue to challenge the presidential
election results. They are going to lodge a complaint with the European
Court of Human Rights.