ROBERT KOCHARIAN: AUTHORITIES INTEND TO WAIT UNTIL CURRENT SITUATION FADES AWAY CALMLY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 29 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The authorities intend to wait
patiently until the "theatrical show" in Freedom Square fades away
calmly – in consideration of the fact that only some section of the
people is there, the RA president Robert Kocharian stated at Yerevan
State University (YSU) on February 29.

During his last meeting in status of Armenian president with students
of YSU, R. Kocharian underlined that the authorities will try to let
the political process develop logically and have its quiet and calm
outcome. In his opinion, the current situation cannot be compared
with that in 1989-1990 when the collapsing empire was in agony, where
in independent Armenia such an outcome is just impossible. A second
option of the authorities is also possible: to clean the square
by taking police actions and allow those people to lead a quieter
life. At the same time, he said that the police use force only when
they meet with resistance.

The Armenan president predicted 4 versions for those who disagree
with the results of the presidential elections. The first one: the
mass events will continue, the more time passes, the greater their
frustration will be. In R.

Kocharian’s opinion, this is a deadlock, which "will discredit over
time those who try to use this tool today". The second version (most
undesirable for everyone and Armenia) is that of attacking state
bodies just as what happened in 1996. In this case the organizers
will be outside the law, while the law enforcement bodies have enough
force and opportunity to protect the constitutional order, and "many
of those standing on the platform will spend years in prison".

The president estimated the two other versions of the situation’s
development as "reasonable". The first one: the candidate, who
does not accept the election results, thanks people for their
assistance, sends them to their homes, and he prepares for the next
eelctions, maintaining his influence on them and his conduct of rigid
opposition. Another "reasonable" scenario: he "sends people to their
homes, congratulates the newly elected president, asks to treat
mildly those who have violated law and then he starts writing his
next in turn scientific work". "It is up to them to make a choice,
we agree to each of these 4 versions," R. Kocharian said.

In his words, an active process is underway as a result of the call
for cooperation made by the newly elected president Serge Sargsian,
various candidates, other political forces are responding to this
call. "My opinion is that a cooperation format will form in the next
2-3 days," R. Kocharian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress