Kocharian `congratulated’ Ter-Petrosian on `being elected’ for the
position of the Armenian President

January 18, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in
Yerevan today that the `leadership of the country dos not define the
number of rounds of the presidential elections – this is the decision
of the people’.

Mediamax reports that, talking to the journalists after the meeting in
the Yerevan City Administration, the President stated that the talks
about the number of rounds are based on the results of social surveys,
which evidence that there is great likelihood that the elections will
be concluded in the first round.

Robert Kocharian stated that certain political forces are `very
sensitive’ concerning this issue, since the President, elected in the
very first round, bears great responsibility for the promises and the
programs, presented during the pre-election campaign, and `the second
round opens up great opportunities for political trade, and many would
want not to deprive themselves of the given opportunity’.

`Twice I was elected as a result of two rounds of elections, and I know
what I am talking about. Besides the direct responsibilities for the
people, certain indirect problems also occur. It is desirable that the
elected President not have those problems’, Robert Kocharian stated.

Answering the question on how he would comment on the statement of the
Ex-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian that `I am already elected
President’, President Robert Kocharian said: `Congratulations!’