ARMENIA OPPOSITION DOES PLAN REVOLUTION – EX-PRESIDENT

Interfax
March 1 2009
Russia

Opposition does not plan to make revolution and is not planning
round-the-clock protest actions or other radical measures, leader
of the Armenian National Congress, ex-Armenian President Levon
Ter-Petrosian said at an opposition rally dedicated to the anniversary
of the last March events has taken place in downtown Yerevan on Sunday.

"We reject such ideas. Armenia cannot become a democracy until such
outdated ideas are in our minds," Ter-Petrosian said.

"Constitutional struggle is our path. We will attain a legal new
presidential election," the opposition leader said, adding that the
creation of constitutional opposition and healthy civil society is
a passport for success.

Ter-Petrosian called on participants of the rally to act as prudently
as they can in order not to spoil the difficult situation complicated
by the financial crisis. "We will wait. The day when authorities
will self-destroy is not far. Their current policy will result in
mass dismissals," he said.

The opposition leader did not rule out that authorities could offer
opposition to jointly form the government, noting that it is people
who should react to this proposal.

Ter-Petrosian criticized the economic policy in the country, adding
that authorities conceal the real scales of the financial crisis.

"Authorities sign their verdict by saying that here is no crisis in
the country," he said.

"Our country is simply rolling to chaos. The national currency will
swiftly devaluate soon. Hundreds of enterprises will stop working. The
number of unemployed will increase. Real incomes of people will fall.

And the growth of gas and electricity tariffs will result of growing
prices. Armenia will face a humanitarian disaster," Ter-Petrosian said.