ARMENIAN OUTGOING PRESIDENT OUTLINES CHALLENGES FOR NEW GOVERNMENT

Public TV
April 4 2008
Armenia

Outgoing Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met the government on 4
April for his last time in office to thank the government officials
for joint work during the past 10 years and outline challenges and
tasks facing the new government, Armenian Public TV reported on 4
April in its 1200 gmt "Haylur" news bulletin.

Kocharyan has positively assessed Armenia’s development under his
rule saying that Armenia passed "a great way in its development"
and "large scale reforms in all directions have been implemented"
during the past 10 years. The outgoing president added that the major
aim of the reforms was modernization of the country. Kocharyan said
"the quality of life of our citizens has apparently improved", but
added that "many things to be done in future" still remain.

The outgoing president said many challenges and problems face the
new government, adding that their solution will be "no less fateful"
for Armenia. Kocharyan outlined the forecast decline of international
economy as a challenge for the implementation of the second generation
economic reforms in Armenia.

Kocharyan said Armenia also faces a security challenge adding that
"during the past years the world did not become more secure and our
region remains to be full of contradictions" and added that "consistent
steps are needed to further strengthen the country’s security, to
increase the fighting capacity of the army and I believe all this
should be accompanied by flexible and equivalent diplomatic steps".

Kocharyan said he believes measures should be taken "to strengthen
the bases of the statehood", adding that there are forces abroad
who do not want Armenia to be prosperous and figures in Armenia
who are ready to serve this purpose. Kocharyan said in this regard:
"A country sensitive to weak influences cannot ensure the security
of the country and its citizens and cannot ensure serious democratic
achievements, which we have had during these 10 years, either."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress