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EX-PRESIDENT EXPLAINS DECISION NOT TO JOIN THE FRAY, CONTINUES CRITICISM OF SUCCESSOR'S POLICIES
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/42534/armenia_second_president_robert_kocharyan_politics _elections
POLITICS | 15.01.13 | 13:07
Armenia's former president Robert Kocharyan says he has decided to
stay aloof from active politics in the current election season mainly
not to get bogged down in "petty bargaining" that he said would have
been a waste of his "time, knowledge and experience".
In an interview with Mediamax news agency published on Tuesday,
Kocharyan insisted that he himself did not plan on contesting the
presidential post, but he acknowledged that there were certain
expectations from him in this regard.
Kocharyan also said that struggle between "two Karabakhis and recent
companions" - meaning himself and current president Serzh Sargsyan,
both of whom are of Karabakh extraction - would have been unacceptable
to him. "This would have put many in the situation of a tough choice
and would have become a subject of various speculations. Besides,
once I myself suggested that the current president be my successor
and his desire to be reelected for a second term is understandable,"
said the former head of state, whose transfer of power to Sargsyan
through an electoral process in 2008 resulted in deadly street violence
and plunged the country into a political crisis for several years.
Kocharyan added that he similarly did not want to get involved in
the format of "three presidents struggling for power" (implying also
his predecessor Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the current leader of a major
opposition bloc) as he described such a format as "very unpleasant
and detrimental to the country."
At the same time, the former leader continued to criticize his
successor's policies, in particular, the handling by his government
of the social and economic problems facing the country.
"Unfortunately, fundamental factors still do not give grounds for
optimism. Outward migration continues unabated, and it no longer
resembles mere labor migration. With the low birthrate and aging
population, this trend is very dangerous," said Kocharyan.
While acknowledging that Armenia has been picking up in terms of
economic growth in the years after the 2009 recession imposed by the
global economic storm, the ex-president still cast doubts over the
prospect of a sustainable growth in conditions of falling investments
and an increasingly heavier debt burden.
As one of the possible positive developments for the country's economy
Kocharyan pointed to the prospect of the restoration of a railroad
link with Russia via Abkhazia, which has become feasible in view of
political changes in Georgia last year.
Speaking about the political situation in Armenia, Kocharyan decried
the presence of what he described as "puppet" political competition
formed during the current elections.
Several major political forces, including the Prosperous Party
of Armenia of tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and Ter-Petrosyan's Armenian National Congress bowed out
of the presidential race apparently seeing little chance of mounting
any significant challenge to the current government in the current
political environment.
In his latest interview Kocharyan stressed that such a situation
cannot possibly promote efficient work of the government, while it
only causes apathy in society.
"It is well known that while the government may be sleeping well
without competition, people, as a rule, live poorly," said Kocharyan.
"It is quite difficult to reverse this trend through the efforts of the
government. Something greater is needed, something that would mobilize
the society, instill faith in it and induce it to take action. I hope
the government will be able to cope with these challenges."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/42534/armenia_second_president_robert_kocharyan_politics _elections
POLITICS | 15.01.13 | 13:07
Armenia's former president Robert Kocharyan says he has decided to
stay aloof from active politics in the current election season mainly
not to get bogged down in "petty bargaining" that he said would have
been a waste of his "time, knowledge and experience".
In an interview with Mediamax news agency published on Tuesday,
Kocharyan insisted that he himself did not plan on contesting the
presidential post, but he acknowledged that there were certain
expectations from him in this regard.
Kocharyan also said that struggle between "two Karabakhis and recent
companions" - meaning himself and current president Serzh Sargsyan,
both of whom are of Karabakh extraction - would have been unacceptable
to him. "This would have put many in the situation of a tough choice
and would have become a subject of various speculations. Besides,
once I myself suggested that the current president be my successor
and his desire to be reelected for a second term is understandable,"
said the former head of state, whose transfer of power to Sargsyan
through an electoral process in 2008 resulted in deadly street violence
and plunged the country into a political crisis for several years.
Kocharyan added that he similarly did not want to get involved in
the format of "three presidents struggling for power" (implying also
his predecessor Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the current leader of a major
opposition bloc) as he described such a format as "very unpleasant
and detrimental to the country."
At the same time, the former leader continued to criticize his
successor's policies, in particular, the handling by his government
of the social and economic problems facing the country.
"Unfortunately, fundamental factors still do not give grounds for
optimism. Outward migration continues unabated, and it no longer
resembles mere labor migration. With the low birthrate and aging
population, this trend is very dangerous," said Kocharyan.
While acknowledging that Armenia has been picking up in terms of
economic growth in the years after the 2009 recession imposed by the
global economic storm, the ex-president still cast doubts over the
prospect of a sustainable growth in conditions of falling investments
and an increasingly heavier debt burden.
As one of the possible positive developments for the country's economy
Kocharyan pointed to the prospect of the restoration of a railroad
link with Russia via Abkhazia, which has become feasible in view of
political changes in Georgia last year.
Speaking about the political situation in Armenia, Kocharyan decried
the presence of what he described as "puppet" political competition
formed during the current elections.
Several major political forces, including the Prosperous Party
of Armenia of tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and Ter-Petrosyan's Armenian National Congress bowed out
of the presidential race apparently seeing little chance of mounting
any significant challenge to the current government in the current
political environment.
In his latest interview Kocharyan stressed that such a situation
cannot possibly promote efficient work of the government, while it
only causes apathy in society.
"It is well known that while the government may be sleeping well
without competition, people, as a rule, live poorly," said Kocharyan.
"It is quite difficult to reverse this trend through the efforts of the
government. Something greater is needed, something that would mobilize
the society, instill faith in it and induce it to take action. I hope
the government will be able to cope with these challenges."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress