LEVON TER-PETROSYAN REFUSES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT DUE TO HIS ADVANCED YEARS
ARMINFO
Tuesday, December 25, 14:13
Leader of Armenian National Congress, first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said in an interview with the local Chorrord
Inqnishkhanutyun newspaper that he has no intention to run for
president on Feb 18 2013 due to his advanced years.
He said he is surprised at the mess over his supposed decision. In
the meanwhile, he thinks that a man at the age of 68, who respects his
people, will not claim presidency. "It is not practiced in developed
democratic countries," Ter-Petrosyan said.
There are exceptions, indeed, in some emergency cases when there is
external threat to the country or internal chaos. "In such cases,
an elder but authoritative and experienced statesman usually takes
control of the country. In Armenia there is not similar situation. The
power is concentrated in the hands of a group of criminals," he said.
At the same time, Ter-Petrosyan does not think that his age reason
may seem just a pretext to many people. In this context, the recalled
that yet in 2007 when he announced his intention to run for president
he declared that if elected he would leave politics forever in 3
years to enable younger statesmen to come to power through free and
fair elections.
ARMINFO
Tuesday, December 25, 14:13
Leader of Armenian National Congress, first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said in an interview with the local Chorrord
Inqnishkhanutyun newspaper that he has no intention to run for
president on Feb 18 2013 due to his advanced years.
He said he is surprised at the mess over his supposed decision. In
the meanwhile, he thinks that a man at the age of 68, who respects his
people, will not claim presidency. "It is not practiced in developed
democratic countries," Ter-Petrosyan said.
There are exceptions, indeed, in some emergency cases when there is
external threat to the country or internal chaos. "In such cases,
an elder but authoritative and experienced statesman usually takes
control of the country. In Armenia there is not similar situation. The
power is concentrated in the hands of a group of criminals," he said.
At the same time, Ter-Petrosyan does not think that his age reason
may seem just a pretext to many people. In this context, the recalled
that yet in 2007 when he announced his intention to run for president
he declared that if elected he would leave politics forever in 3
years to enable younger statesmen to come to power through free and
fair elections.