IN SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN’S WORDS, IN CASE OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S RUNNING FOR ELECTIONS SERGE SARGSIAN WILL HAVE MORE PREFERABLE "APPEARANCE"
Noyan Tapan
Sep 4, 2007
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At present Armenia is inferior
to the other countries of the South Caucasian region by its economic
indices.
Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Party,
said at the September 4 dispute with Hrant Bagratian, the former RA
Prime Minister (1993-1996), that the reason of the above mentioned is
not country’s being in a blockade, but lack of democratic values. As
he affirmed, in general, the political system has a direct influence
on any country’s economic situation.
According to H. Bagratian, the share of the Armenian budget in GDP
has considerably decreased in the past 12 years making 16.9%, while
in Azerbaijan it makes 17.9%, in Iran 37.1%, in Turkey 41.9%. While,
that index almost did not differ from the indices of the neighboring
countries in 1995 in the RA. Besides, as H. Bagratian mentioned, the
construction of a new nuclear power plant is being delayed. Instead
of that, according to the former Prime Minister, they "try to forge
a case connected with mazut accusing some of the former authorities"
and "those making that forged case," including the Chairman of the
National Democratic Party, still should be called responsible. Opposing
to him, S. Kocharian stated that Armenia is perhaps the only country,
where "not thieves, but those accusing them of a theft should be
called responsible."
Touching upon the issue of first RA President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s
runing for the 2008 presidential elections, S. Kocharian said: "No
one asks, what he is going to do in case of being elected, besides
ceding Artsakh." And if it is found out that the first RA President
is the opposition’s common candidate, in S. Kocharian’s words, Prime
Minister Serge Sargsian will gain most of all: "he will have more
preferable "appearance" on the background of L. Ter-Petrosian."