Robert Kocharyan: Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s affection for Azerbaijan is
becoming unhealthy

armradio.am
01.02.2008 17:39

RA President Robert Kocharyan is assured that a person, who declares
that Azerbaijan is Armenia’s only link with the outer world has at
least very dim notion of geography. Turning to the above mentioned
statement of presidential contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan, President
Kocharyan told reporters that the ex-President probably said it
deriving from the fact that in Soviet times 85% of cargoes were
transported to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan.

`However, those were the routes of interior trade and interior cargo
shipment of the USSR, and Armenia was not a subject of foreign trade at
that time. This shows also that some people are not aware of the
structure of today’s foreign trade. Of course, Azerbaijan is not that
important for Armenia in its trade with Europe, the US and many other
countries. We carry out the trade with Russian via Georgia or the Black
Sea in the form of ferry communication,’ Robert Kocharyan said.

The President suggested to look at Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s statements
form another perspective. `Currently negotiations on the Karabakh
conflict settlement are underway, and the Azeri side feels somewhat
giddy connected with the oil factor, and deriving from oil expectations
it is trying to toughen its position. The first President declares that
Azerbaijan possesses not only the privilege of oil but also that of
favorable location and is the only way for Armenia towards the outer
world. And if the knowledge of geography is one the same level in
Azerbaijan, it’s clear that they will try to further toughen their
position on the Nagorno Karabakh issue. In general, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s attitude and love for Azerbaijan is becoming unhealthy
and raise many questions and doubts,’ Robert Kocharyan added.