“When the first, second and third presidents [of Armenia] call each other criminals, that is not only unpleasant but, to put it mildly, does not contribute to the strengthening of the state,” editorializes “Aravot.” “Theoretically, Robert Kocharian was right to say in his yesterday’s interview, ‘It’s always convenient to make a former president the target of extremism.’ But he then added, ‘I didn’t behave like that in 1998, finding such behavior inappropriate.’ The second president is simply not frank on this count. After 1998 he did just that. True, Kocharian did not personally target the first president until the autumn of 2007. But that was done with a lot of zeal for ten years by media and politicians controlled by him. Which is, in essence, the same thing.”
“Zhamanak Yerevan” comments on Kocharian’s remark that he was wrong not to have put Levon Ter-Petrosian in jail in 1998. “For what crime?” asks the paper. “If Ter-Petrosian committed a crime but stayed free, then Robert Kocharian shares responsibility for all that and must also end up behind bars. Besides, the constitution of the Republic of Armenia gives the right to imprison anyone only to the independent judicial branch. Therefore, if Robert Kocharian considers not imprisoning Levon Ter-Petrosian to be his mistake, it means that he violated the constitution and usurped judicial powers. That is also a deed punishable by criminal law.”
“In effect, he is unhappy that Serzh Sarkisian is not jailing Levon Ter-Petrosian,” writes “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “He is also hinting that the authorities may have liked the accusations addressed to him.” The opposition paper also finds noteworthy Kocharian’s remark that he may still be regarded by Ter-Petrosian as his “main rival in future political battles.” “What future political battles is he talking about? Levon Ter-Petrosian has stated that if the next presidential elections are not pre-term and take places in 2013 he will not participate in them. Therefore, Kocharian is talking about pre-term elections.”
“Kocharian is plainly telling Serzh Sarkisian, ‘If you have decided to sacrifice me for the March 1 case and solve your problems in that way, you are wrong. For my part, I will exploit your being chummy with Turkey and will myself fight against Levon Ter-Petrosian in pre-term presidential elections. So come to your senses. I am the one who made you a president at the cost of fighting at the people,’” speculates “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” pounces on Kocharian’s remark that Yerevan now looks more glitzy than during Ter-Petrosian’s rule. “He is going to publish a book about all this,” says the paper. “In other words, our bookstores will soon sell useful manuals for those who pave and light streets. They will detail how you can pave and lights streets ten years after the end of a war. But it will say nothing about why the streets of Stepanakert were not paved and lit when Karabakh was governed by Robert Kocharian.”
(Armen Dulian)
“Zhamanak Yerevan” comments on Kocharian’s remark that he was wrong not to have put Levon Ter-Petrosian in jail in 1998. “For what crime?” asks the paper. “If Ter-Petrosian committed a crime but stayed free, then Robert Kocharian shares responsibility for all that and must also end up behind bars. Besides, the constitution of the Republic of Armenia gives the right to imprison anyone only to the independent judicial branch. Therefore, if Robert Kocharian considers not imprisoning Levon Ter-Petrosian to be his mistake, it means that he violated the constitution and usurped judicial powers. That is also a deed punishable by criminal law.”
“In effect, he is unhappy that Serzh Sarkisian is not jailing Levon Ter-Petrosian,” writes “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” “He is also hinting that the authorities may have liked the accusations addressed to him.” The opposition paper also finds noteworthy Kocharian’s remark that he may still be regarded by Ter-Petrosian as his “main rival in future political battles.” “What future political battles is he talking about? Levon Ter-Petrosian has stated that if the next presidential elections are not pre-term and take places in 2013 he will not participate in them. Therefore, Kocharian is talking about pre-term elections.”
“Kocharian is plainly telling Serzh Sarkisian, ‘If you have decided to sacrifice me for the March 1 case and solve your problems in that way, you are wrong. For my part, I will exploit your being chummy with Turkey and will myself fight against Levon Ter-Petrosian in pre-term presidential elections. So come to your senses. I am the one who made you a president at the cost of fighting at the people,’” speculates “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” pounces on Kocharian’s remark that Yerevan now looks more glitzy than during Ter-Petrosian’s rule. “He is going to publish a book about all this,” says the paper. “In other words, our bookstores will soon sell useful manuals for those who pave and light streets. They will detail how you can pave and lights streets ten years after the end of a war. But it will say nothing about why the streets of Stepanakert were not paved and lit when Karabakh was governed by Robert Kocharian.”
(Armen Dulian)