LEVON TER-PETROSIAN: IN ARMENIA RUSSIA WILL NOT DO THINGS IT DID IN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE
Noyan Tapan
Dec 6, 2007
MOSCOW, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In an interview to the Russian
newspaper "Kommersant", the first Armenian president and a presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian expressed confidence that in Armenia,
Russia "will not do the things it did in Georgia and Ukraine".
In response to the correspondent’s question: "Aren’t you afraid that
Russia may take the side of the authorities?", L. Ter-Petrosian
replied: "It will not happen in my case when I am the alternative
to Serge Sargsian. The Ukrainian and Georgian schemes will not work
here. There is no division between pro-Russian and pro-American
forces here".
According to Radio Liberty, the first Armenian president reminded that
there was strategic partnership between Armenia and Russia at the
time of his being in power, too. "All the most important agreements
were signed at that time. Armenia was the first to join the CIS. All
agreements: those on collective security, on joint defence of the
borders, on the united system of air defence, on the military base in
Gyumri, and on creation of ArmRusgazprom were signed under me. Finally,
the great Russian-Armenian political agreement. The current authorities
have not added anything new.
Can you remember even one agreement signed by them?"
Being reminded that in accordance with the agreement signed with
Gazprom last year, the gas transportation systems in the territory
of Armenia were transferred to this company, L. Ter-Petrosian said:
"It is another thing.
Many accuse Russia in this issue but it is not to blame. In order
to make their life easier and not to pay interest on the debts to
Russia, the current Armenian authorities solved the problem this way
– by giving it as property. The issue of this debt could have been
solved otherwise. Putin himself said twice that it was the initiative
of Armenia and not Russia".
As for the Russian military base in Gyumri, the first Armenian
president said: "When Russia had problems with the presence of
servicemen in our territory, I proposed that Boris Yelstin should
record that it is a military base. He gave instructions to prepare
a document, and everything was done.
It is natural if it proceeds from interests of both Russia and
Armenia. This interest exists now as it was in the past".
Responding to the question: "You are appealing to the international
community to follow the process of the elections, you met with EU
ambassadors. Did you appeal to Russia?" L. Ter-Petrosian replied: "I
have not appealed to any state. I have appealed to the organizations,
to which we have assumed certain democratic obligations – to the
Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN. We are asking one thing: Armenia
shall fulfil the obligations assumed."
As for the CIS, in the words of the first president, "Armenia has
not assumed such obligations to the CIS".
In reponse to questions related to the possible rigging in the
February elections, Levon Ter-Petrosian said: "We do everything to
avoid it. However, they may invent something else".
In case of electoral rigging, in the words of the first president,
"there will be no revolution, I will not allow violence and offences
on our part".
"What if people, however, take to the streets?" – in response to
this question, L. Ter-Petrosian said: "Then I will ask the people to
express its opinion only in a peaceful way".