BAKU: Kocharyan: "I will vote for working PM Serj Sarkisyan"

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2008

Robert Kocharyan: "I will vote for working Prime Minister Serj
Sarkisyan"

18 February 2008 [10:39] – Today.Az

President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan binds all his hopes for the
further economic success and future of Armenia with Serj Sarkisyan.

He said he considers Prime Minister Serj Sarkisyan to be the best
candidate for country’s President.

The head of state said the logics at the elections should be
clear-the voters should assess the challenges facing their country
and candidates’ ability to react to these challenges.

"The security issues are more important in this sense, especially
considering the unsettled conflict and complications in the region",
R.Kocharyan said in his interview to a number of Armenia TV companies
Saturday.

He announced that the voters should assess the candidates ability to
resist the security challenges of the country.

"For me this is a person who has been the Defense Minister for 8.5
years and turned the army into the national pride. He would be the
best commander", R.Kocharyan said explaining his choice.

According to him, Serj Sarkisyan has also been the Minister of
Internal Affairs and Security, dealing with the issues, which are
included into the President’s competence by the Constitution. He said
the life was leading the working Prime Minister through the
positions, which would give him experience for the position of the
President.

"Sarkisyan managed to achieve serious results, raising collection of
taxes and settling social problems by occupying an almost independent
position of the Prime Minister for only 10 months", the President
said.

He considers that the working Prime Minister will be able to
counteract the challenges connected with the economic reforms.

Robert Kocharyan said Levon Ter-Petrosyan would not be able to settle
this problem. He reminded that "Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who got a
successful country and delivered ruins to his successor".

"Levon Ter-Petrsyan was an unsuccessful president and his resignation
was the

recognition of it. Armenia is mainly in need of a president,
experienced in creation, not in destruction". Kocharyan said.

"I am ready to entrust the security of my family to Serj Sarkisyan. I
bound the further economic achievements and future of the country to
him", the head of state added.

He noted that Serj Sarkisyan have achieved improvements in almost all
spheres for a short period of time, which evidences his skills,
consequence, will and responsibility.

"These are the best features for the President and I will vote for
the working Prime Minister", Kocharyan said.

/Novosti-Armenia/

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