YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–If Robert Kocharian is elected–he will not yield to any pressure to step down as Levon Ter-Petrosyan did in the last year of his presidency–said Defense Minister Vazgen Sargssian at a meeting with students at the Yerevan Medical University yesterday.
Sargssian also emphasized that Robert Kocharian does not support war–but rather a decent peace with precise compromise. If he is elected president–according to Vazgen Sargssian–Robert Kocharian will abide by the following policy: to avoid war by any political means–but to be always ready for war.
"Robert Kocharian is a man of unity of word and action," Armenia’s defense minister said.
"The experience of his work in Karabakh and Armenia’shows that he is capable of solving economic problems also," he added.
Sargssian said that unlike Robert Kocharian–Karen Demirchian has no moral right to become president.
"Robert Kocharian is one of the leaders of the struggle of the Armenian people and understands the strategy of war and peace and possible compromise," said Sargssian. "Karen Demirchian has not even a slightest idea of all this."
Vazgen Sargssian noted that by inviting foreign observers–Armenia pledged to pay due regard to their opinion. But Sargssian emphasized that among observers there will also be the bearers of subjective opinions who will try to cast aspersions on the elections and "place a sword over the head of any president elected to use it for their interests if needed." If the election is run normally in Armenia–any opinion from abroad or any interference is secondary said Sargssian.
Vazgen Sargssian considered the announcement by the National-Democratic Union–in which the party calls on Vazgen Manoukian’s electors to vote basing on their own convictions and conscience–very moral and just. Sargssian believes that the majority of Vazgen Manoukian’s favorers will vote for Robert Kocharian.