YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"The sale of the Yerevan Brandy Factory is one of the best deals," President Robert Kocharian stated at a Wednesday press conference. He stressed that he is not worried about the controversy regarding the deal. "There is an opposition–there are forces who are seeking power and it is natural that they took advantage of this occasion."
According to the president–the row over the sale of the Yerevan Brandy Factory is the result–above all–to emotional sentiment. "Today–capital knows no borders–and if we try to create obstacles to capital–create a special status for Armenia–we will find ourselves outside the world economic processes." According to Kocharian–the deal is also a good occasion to criticize the government and the president. The president said that in a year’s time those who were opposing the deal will be ashamed to speak about it–"for there will be quite different results."
Commenting on the price of the sale–Kocharian said the price was adjusted to the serious restrictions set by the Armenian side regarding Armenian grapes–bottling in Armenia–among other specifications. "The grander the restrictions are–the lower the price had to be. There could have been no restrictions at all–and in that case we would have lost the notion of `Armenia brandy’," said the president. Kocharian denied an allegation made by a journalist that the deal was not open for review. According to the president–after the deal had been concluded–each deputy of the National Assembly had an opportunity to get familiarized with the terms of the agreement–as one of the copies of the agreement will remain in Parliament.