Yesterday was the opening of the new head office of the Ardshininvestbank in the former Municipality building of Yerevan located on Grigor Lusavorich street.
One of the main owners of the building as well as the bank is the famous International Business Center, which years ago bought other former ministry buildings in Armenia. One of the main owners of this center is the Russian-Armenian, Moscow resident, businessman Artur Bagoyan. The Ardshininvestbank has bought this building in 2005. According to the director of the International Business Center Khachatur Zakaryan three billion dollars were spent on the reconstruction of the building and the building was bought at 2 billion dollars. The owners added two more floors on the building and fully repaired it. The opening lace was cut by the incumbent president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, according to whose words there is no such luxurious head office of a bank in Armenia. The president-elect, Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, chairman of the CB Tigran Sargsyan, many bankers, MPs, businessmen, NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan and even the former defense minister of NKR Samvel Babayan. After walking on all the floors of the bank Kocharyan decided to answer the questions of journalists. Perhaps yesterday’s Q&A was the last one of the President That is the reason why the journalists were interested what the President was going to do after leaving the office. This question was asked by a Radio Liberty reporter. “Does the pretext of your question imply that I have to occupy some position by all means? I guess this is the style of radio station ‘Liberty’. I have no desire to tell you and especially radio station ‘Liberty’ what I am going to do. I have more respect for the activity of those Armenian media which care about their problems and are not funded by other governments. I have decided not to answer you because what you do is aimed at undermining the foundations of the Armenian statehood. I cannot have a positive attitude towards that,” Kocharyan said. The journalists asked whether the president follows the process of the investigation launched in connection with the March 1 events. “They report me on the process every week. Twenty cases have been sent to the court. The process is under way. Today, it is already obvious that the disorders bore an organized nature. The major part of the events has been restored by every hour and minute. And the people who are trying to speculate the issue of the political detainees will be greatly disappointed during the court hearings when they familiarize themselves with the actual materials which are being collected by the investigative group and which will be included in the indictment. I repeat, they will be greatly disappointed because they will see what kind of people they tried to protect. This process will be continued, but it is clear now that the riots were organized,” Kocharyan said. He pointed out that most of the chain of events has been restored per minute. “Those trying to speculate on political prisoners in Armenia, will soon be deeply disappointed during the trials when they get acquainted with the materials the investigatory group is collecting and will include in the indictment,” Kocharyan said. May be, without being aware of the seriousness of crimes, many people were trying to support the perpetrators, Kocharyan said. The RA President also spoke about the current state of RA economy. Let us remember that during the electoral processes there was certain slump noticed in certain sectors of the economy. RPA MP Gagik Minasyan has also recently spoken about that. In what status does Kocharyan leave the economy of the country? “If we view the issue based on the indices of last year, we can say that the economy is in a state of sustainable development. During the month of March, there was a certain fall in terms of the volumes of trade which, I think, is natural, considering the internal political situation. But obviously, all that is possible to overcome, and I have no doubt that we have the opportunity to finish the year with serious indices. There is one factor that should be considered: the international economy records decline in all the spheres. This may produce a certain impact on the paces of the development of Armenia’s economy. But I am sure that even in this case it is possible to conduct such a policy and find such solutions that will make it possible avoid the negative impact resulting from the fall of the international economy. Such crises and political tensions usually produce a more serious impact on those countries where the stock market is developed and from where it is much easier to get away. The stock market in Armenia is underdeveloped; there is, actually, no capital market. The investments have been mainly made in the real sector of economy. And these are the investments which have neither a place nor a desire for getting away. For instance, where should this bank move? There is no such hazard in Armenia. In the deep sense I see no problem for Armenia in the short-term outlook. Each country faces such a situation once every 10-15 years and should find strength to come out of it more flexibly. Armenia will do the same. It is only necessary to carry out the tasks in the business sphere quickly", Kocharyan said.” The journalists asked if it is it possible for the internal political situation to abate as a result of extraordinary parliamentary elections? “The most illogical idea I heard with regard to those questions was the idea of extraordinary parliamentary elections. Extraordinary elections are held in case the parliament doesn’t work and is unable to form a government or pass laws. See how effective the activity of our parliament is. There are very few parliaments of the kind. Why should new elections be held? If we are guided by such logic, each election should be immediately followed by a new one. I don’t think any election may bring about the abatement of the political situation in Armenia. On the contrary, each new election gives rise to a new tension,” mentioned Kocharyan. The reporters asked the President to comment on E. Mamedyarov’s recent statement on proceeding with the Karabakh settlement talks. “It’s obvious that Azerbaijan recently tried to take advantage of Armenia’s internal political situation with the purpose of influencing the negotiation process. This should oblige the Armenian side to be much more determined in fundamental issues. And certainly, no concessions or changes must be made as much as the approaches are concerned. On the contrary, it is necessary take a tougher stance in such cases. We should at least realize that Armenia’s stability, paces of development and strength are the best guarantees for having firm positions with regard to the Karabakh issue,” he said. To our question whether the recognition of the NKR of part of Armenia wouldn’t mean that the negation process has been worn out and that the conflict should be solved via war Kocharyan said, “During the period of my presidency I have faced such a situation twice. If at that time I hadn’t undertaken rapid actions it is quite possible that the current negotiation process wouldn’t be as favorable as it is now. I don’t think that at present there is a danger of war resumption. Even if there was we should be intimidated by the threats of Azerbaijan.” The NKR Prime Minister A. Harutyunyan was also present at this event. “I don’t agree with this assessment and I think that this step will never run away from us. This issue has existed for a long time and sooner or later we will have to recognize the NKR independence.” Armenia should strict its approach on the NKR negotiations question, said the president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan in a meeting with the journalists, today. By this he commented on the recent announcement made by the minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamediarov stating that Azerbaijan has not strict its approaches to the NKR question. He said that recently it was found out that Azerbaijan was trying to get use of the inner political life of Armenia and change the regulation of the NKR question process. “Such attempt done by Azerbaijan should force Armenia to be more strict and decisive,” said the president. According to the president Armenia and Azerbaijan might become stricter and Armenia should be conscious of the fact that the regulation of the NKR question is dependent on the RA stability. “I don’t think the calls for a dialogue are addressed to me. I am not ready for any dialogue, and I consider that people committing criminally punishable acts should be held accountable by the law. But the next President, the Government and the political factions represented in the Parliament can, for some reasons, discuss issues of the kind. It is just necessary to clarify the frameworks of the dialogue: with whom and around what issues. It is necessary to severely punish the people undermining the foundations of the state instead of conducting a dialogue with them. All these actions must be aimed at strengthening the sovereignty of Armenia,” President Kocharyan said.