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KOCHARYAN DISAPPROVED BEGLARYAN
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country23226.html
16:30:01 - 05/09/2011
SUBJECT: KOCHARIAN: 'U.S. INTERFERES IN ARMENIA'S ELECTIONS'
Classified By: AMB Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) The Ambassador called May 8 on ex-President Robert Kocharian
to hear his views on Armenia's recent joint statement with Turkey
regarding normalization of relations (septel), and learn of his plans
for Yerevan's upcoming May 31 municipal election that will decide
the capital's next mayor. When the Ambassador asked him about the
upcoming mayoral election, Kocharian asserted that 'the diplomatic
corps should not politicize them.' Kocharian said 'they (foreign
diplomats) always use them to pressure Armenia -- it was that way as
long as I was president.' The Ambassador responded that the United
States does not interfere in Armenia's elections, but that it would
carefully watch the upcoming election given the fact that it affected
half of the population in Armenia.
2. (C) Kocharian griped that 'the problem in small countries like
ours is that the pressure always comes from the outside -- from
either Moscow, Brussels, or Washington.' 'You deform our political
process in the pursuit of your interests,' Kocharian declared, 'by
encouraging the opposition to politicize our elections so that they
become an instrument for outsiders to pressure Armenia.'
3. (C) Kocharian said 'I always thought that the U.S. embassy became
a party during our elections.' He grumbled that during elections,
'the worst are the British (because of their history of imperialism),
then the Americans, and sometimes the French -- the opposition uses
all of you, which complicates the situation.' The Ambassador strongly
disagreed with Kocharian, and affirmed that the United States does not
take any side in any election. The Ambassador said that as always,
however, the United States would share its opinion with others on
its observations of the upcoming election.
4. (C) When asked whether he was going to get involved in the May
31 election, Kocharian said he would not because he is sure the
Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia will win. He added that 'If
I thought they could lose, then I would get involved.' Kocharian
said he disagreed with the ruling coalition's decision to contest
the elections as separate parties, asserting that 'I would have
gotten them to present one unified candidate to represent the entire
coalition.' Kocharian said he also disapproved of the candidate whom
the Republican Party had chosen to top their list (the newly appointed
mayor, Gagik Beglarian). Kocharian lastly assured the Ambassador that
although the opposition seeks to politicize the election, there will
not be a replay of the March 1 events from 2008.
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country23226.html
16:30:01 - 05/09/2011
SUBJECT: KOCHARIAN: 'U.S. INTERFERES IN ARMENIA'S ELECTIONS'
Classified By: AMB Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) The Ambassador called May 8 on ex-President Robert Kocharian
to hear his views on Armenia's recent joint statement with Turkey
regarding normalization of relations (septel), and learn of his plans
for Yerevan's upcoming May 31 municipal election that will decide
the capital's next mayor. When the Ambassador asked him about the
upcoming mayoral election, Kocharian asserted that 'the diplomatic
corps should not politicize them.' Kocharian said 'they (foreign
diplomats) always use them to pressure Armenia -- it was that way as
long as I was president.' The Ambassador responded that the United
States does not interfere in Armenia's elections, but that it would
carefully watch the upcoming election given the fact that it affected
half of the population in Armenia.
2. (C) Kocharian griped that 'the problem in small countries like
ours is that the pressure always comes from the outside -- from
either Moscow, Brussels, or Washington.' 'You deform our political
process in the pursuit of your interests,' Kocharian declared, 'by
encouraging the opposition to politicize our elections so that they
become an instrument for outsiders to pressure Armenia.'
3. (C) Kocharian said 'I always thought that the U.S. embassy became
a party during our elections.' He grumbled that during elections,
'the worst are the British (because of their history of imperialism),
then the Americans, and sometimes the French -- the opposition uses
all of you, which complicates the situation.' The Ambassador strongly
disagreed with Kocharian, and affirmed that the United States does not
take any side in any election. The Ambassador said that as always,
however, the United States would share its opinion with others on
its observations of the upcoming election.
4. (C) When asked whether he was going to get involved in the May
31 election, Kocharian said he would not because he is sure the
Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia will win. He added that 'If
I thought they could lose, then I would get involved.' Kocharian
said he disagreed with the ruling coalition's decision to contest
the elections as separate parties, asserting that 'I would have
gotten them to present one unified candidate to represent the entire
coalition.' Kocharian said he also disapproved of the candidate whom
the Republican Party had chosen to top their list (the newly appointed
mayor, Gagik Beglarian). Kocharian lastly assured the Ambassador that
although the opposition seeks to politicize the election, there will
not be a replay of the March 1 events from 2008.