Good evening. We, I believe, are dealing with a very normal situation in Armenia...one dealing with political structuring...Armenia's government has never faced this kind of opposition from its inner workings. We must compare the desires given by people both in Armenia and those who aren't living there. It's a very serious situation and...I would like to repeat that these elections were the best in the history of Armenia. There are no countries where in the middle of elections there wouldn't be errors. We are talking about errors that are instigated and how they are brought about...what types of errors, brought about by the system or simply events that lead up to this. There is also a truthful perspective about complaining of the elections...we have here some very interesting facts. We have received complaints about recounting 156 or 159 places, of which 135 have been recounted, and only in one have we had a problem. The leader of that area has been handcuffed and will go straight to court. In other places, the main problem has been about whether or not all the ballots were in...as if ballots were in here or there. This shows that, in reality, the elections have passed with high admirable quality and are correctly done and if there are some complaints, we have the court system to deal with these, where people can easily bring forth their complaints. And, I'd like to add that within the 135 places that were recounted, 86 of them were recounted because Levon Ter-Petrossian and Arthur Bagdasarian had complained about them. So...these complaints have absolutely no foundation. So, let me repeat...yes this is an absence of political agenda.
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[about the elections and aftermath of rallies, February 27, 2008]Robert Kocharyan
» Robert Kocharyan - all quotes »
Dear compatriots, a self-endorsed candidate, who lost the 2008 Presidential elections, Levon Ter-Petrossian and a group of his adventurous supporters, not being able to come to terms with the defeat have instigated illegal activities. Among these actions the accumulation of weapons and their transportation to public places, where the presence of weapons may put life and health of the citizens in serious danger, as well as the organization of the meetings and marches without proper notification. Despite the facts that the recount of the ballots, conducted by demand of the candidates participating at the 2008 presidential elections, did not reveal serious irregularities, that no complaints were filed with the administrative courts of Armenia, that in accordance with the Law on Elections the due process of examining the disputations is being conducted by the Constitutional Court, the supporters of candidate Ter-Petrossian continue to dispute the outcome of the elections through illegitimate means. A group of opposition members on March 1 instigated disorder in the center of Yerevan, inflicting damage to the citizens and state property as well as causing direct threat to the safety of the people, which can take the situation out of control. The objective of these actions is to challenge the stability achieved by the Republic of Armenia, the outcome of these actions will be the dented international image of Armenia. As the guarantor of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia I will allow no one to endanger the constitutional order in our state. To prevent any threat to the constitutional order and guided by the paragraph 14 of Article 55, after consultations with the Speaker of the National Assembly and Prime Minister of Armenia, I signed an order to declare in Yerevan a state of emergency for twenty days starting from March 1. The order on the state of emergency requires the following actions: a) ban on meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, marches and other mass events, b) ban on strikes or other actions that may stop or disrupt activities of enterprises, c) inspection of and restriction on movement of individuals and vehicles by the law enforcement bodies when necessary, d) the publications in the mass media on the issues of internal situation and state importance to be restricted to official information provided by the state entities, e) ban on dissemination of fliers and other means of political propaganda without permission of state structures, f) temporary ban on the activities of the political parties and other public organizations, which impede the removal of the causes that resulted in the introduction of the state of emergency, g) expulsion of the non-residents of the given areas, who have violated the legal regime under the state of emergency at their own disbursement, and in the case of absence of such disbursement to cover the expenses from the state budget of the Republic of Armenia on the condition of a subsequent reimbursement. I appeal to everyone to demonstrate restraint and wisdom. In this situation more than ever it is necessary to team up and to fulfill unconditionally all the requirements of the law. I assure you that the state of emergency will be lifted as soon as the causes for its introduction have been eliminated.
Robert Kocharyan
Yes, there are arrests, handcuffings. Both television programs and police units are giving fair warning to these...I would separate these into three types...these arrests. First, they are those who are in connection to these falsified elections. All errors have been taken note of, you may find these on both police and court ruling sites. And all responsible people for these mistakes, of course need to be punished. Here we have both people representing these clingings and other representatives. This is the first block of this problem. The second block...are those people who are being arrested for being dangerous, for carrying a weapon, and let me add here that in this entire investigation, these people are actively involved in these unlawful armies, whom were actively trying to envelop others into their political processes. You know, some percentage of these leaders were truly convinced. There were institutions of veterans which were also involved. And you know, the government cannot look past this. When in the city, we have sworn to handle people with weapons, we are obligated to find a means to handle the situation...to dismantle these dangerous people. I can say that yesterday and today, the different means in which we handle this situation has greatly increased. Many people carrying weaponry and ammunition have already been captured and handcuffed, and these are steps being taken to protect our citizens. These are very serious issues and we are dealing with very dangerous people. And in the third section, are included those people whom are instigating these situations furthermore. Which, had finally decided to spit on the law and continued their misguided rallies. We are required to protect our citizen's rights. They are not the only ones living there. Within those buildings, hundreds of complaints are being gathered. These are the three groups. The larger problem here of course is the group which is deemed dangerous for our citizens and the stability of our government.
Robert Kocharyan
Dear Mr. Sarkissian, I cordially congratulate you with the decisive victory at the 2008 Presidential elections. At the free and fair elections you received a vote to continue the reforms undertaken for the Armenia’s speedy development and democratization. The upholding of Armenian economy’s growth rate, reduction of poverty, introduction of a new quality of life, Armenia’s deeper international involvement, as well as a fair and final resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict is but a few of many tasks given to you by the people of Armenia. I am confident that you will apply all your knowledge and skills to achieve these goals. I am convinced that first years of your presidency will mark further strengthening of the Armenian state and larger degree of tolerance within the society. Armenia possesses a unique human potential, which should be engaged for the advancement of our Motherland. I wish you good health, fervor and vigor to serve the people at the highest position in the state.
Robert Kocharyan
Armenia has a newly chosen president (Serzh Sargsyan), whom has announced that he is the people's leader and not only for those who are approving of him. And this is exactly what the administration is reinforcing. And I have no doubt that he, with his beliefs and motivations, will be that exact kind of a leader which he has planned to be. Of course, we have to look at other active means to deal with and soften those unstable political fields. And I have no doubt about this and I'm positive it will happen, but out-of-reach thought processes must be eliminated. We are planning different means to deal with this and I am thinking that when the new administration is created, people will see that the victorious president is prepared to create better means...and we have to be more strict and of course maintain the law. We...we are very patient...you know all those who come to Armenia, international people, they all note one thing, that we are very patient. I am always asking, does that patience have to have limits or not. For example, how many days should we wait until you continue to believe that we truly are patient. Of course, in each of your countries, never would any government wait six days before handling the situation. Nowhere. More than one day...they wouldn't allow it. Since this situation is created which the government itself is judged by others...patience by continued patience but I believe it's time that they realize that people do not come to power by this Zorba-ic means. Let's understand that just because the person likes the building, he (Levon Ter-Petrossian) cannot proclaim it as his.
Robert Kocharyan
I am convinced, as a member of this structure, that Armenia's government, Armenia's people, Armenia's living conditions, all need great improvement. Our potential has not been completely used.
Vazgen Sargsyan
Kocharyan, Robert
Koirala, Manisha
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