On April 9, 2008 RA President Robert Kocharyan’s tenure in office came to an end. About a month after the inauguration of the new President he gave an exclusive interview to Mediamax, commenting on the latest statement of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
– Speaking at the congress of his supporters, Levon Ter-Petrosyan dedicated most part of his speech to accusations against you. Would you react to those?
– I should say that I was not about to give any interview, but I have to do that after the absurd statements made by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, whom I had almost forgotten about. By throwing mud at others, Levon Ter-Petrosyan will not become purer himself. His manner of self-justification causes a feeling of disgust. He never had the courage to take responsibility. At times of crisis he always thought only about himself. It was the case after the arrest of the “Karabakh” Committee, during the Karabakhi War and in 1998. The same is taking place today. I will not turn to the chronology of events: the investigation should restore the events of March 1-2 minute by minute. I hope that the special commission suggested by the Council of Europe will also address the issue. I also hope that the materials will be publicized, and every citizen will be able to distinguish between the lie and the truth.
– Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the media and political organizations supporting him present the events of March 1-2 in such a way that it comes out that the mass disorders and application of force were previously planned by the authorities. What would you say in this regard?
– Only a dull and a deeply indecent person could assert that the authorities had previously planned the application of force. One should understand whom it is profitable to. Any clashes of this kind are first of all a blow to the authorities. It’s obvious that the opinion that the authorities failed to do everything possible to avoid deaths will always prevail. This is the reality. It is true for similar situations in European countries. In such cases the application of force should be a compulsory measure for the authorities, which prevents more serious consequences, especially for me as an outgoing President. To understand the truth one must simply remember: who was trying to defame the authorities during the whole election campaign and especially after the elections? Who was calling the authorities a “group of gangs?” Who was making the servicemen and policemen break their pledge? Who was blackmailing the international structures and observers for their positive conclusions? Ter-Petrosyan and the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) needed blood as a tool of continuing the struggle after the defeat in the elections. Ter-Petrosyan did everything to provoke disorders and make the Police apply force. At last, who continues to use the events of March 1 for political purposes? Let everyone answer for himself, applying to his/her conscience and draw conclusions.
– Ter-Petrosyan attracts special attention to the fact of his “home arrest? How can this be explained?
– Levon Ter-Petrosyan needs the version of home arrest like air. Without that it is hard to justify his absence from the square next to the City Hall on March 1. I insist that there was no home arrest. Moreover, the Armenian legislation does not provide for any such legal regime. Ter-Petrosyan was told he could go anywhere and any time. However, the participation of the guards in illegal rallies, which grew into mass disorders, was impermissible. By the way, a responsible man would behave just that way. No revolutions are carried out with participation of the State Guard Service. Did he want to go there, and was forced to return? Let him say who has done that. Let him apply to the Prosecutor’s Office. Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s escort is comprised of people loyal to him, who were allowed to stay him upon his request. The head of the escort is a man close to his family. Everyone knows that they are only formally registered in the State Guard Service. The topic of “home arrest” should be in the focus of attention of the Prosecutor’s Office and the commission to be formed. If someone has committed a crime ex officio, let him answer before law. The legend about home arrest is a justification of a coward who is trying to avoid responsibility. I’m not a President any more, and I cannot afford using freer vocabulary, calling the things by their right names.
– In Ter-Petrosyan’s words, “the authorities have something to conceal.” According to him, that is the reason why no one has been charged with using weapons against the Police. Besides, the ex-President speaks about the negotiations with you through foreign Ambassadors on March 1. Which is the truth?
– Why hasn’t anyone been accused of using weapons against the Police? Because some of the main participants still avoid the investigation. In case of having two killed and 41 injured policemen, it’s stupid to question the application of force. I’m speaking only about 43 persons who received gunshot or missile wounds. Ter-Petrosyan noticed some contradiction in my speech during a press conference, when I was saying that the Police troops were not armed. The ex-President should know the difference of the regime of carrying weapons in the Police and the Police troops. The clashes started with the Police troops, the soldiers of which were armed only with truncheons and shields. The two killed and most of the injured were from the Police troops. I’m confident that Ter-Petrosyan knows about it, but deliberately misleads his supporters. Levon Ter-Petrosyan asserts that he negotiated with me on March 1 through diplomats accredited in Armenia. I’m not aware of the fact, I held no talks on March 1 through foreign diplomats and have not received any suggestion. Upon my instruction, the Head of President’s Staff Armen Gevorgyan had two meetings in the evening with representatives of international organizations and Ambassadors of EU member states. The meeting was of informative nature and included no elements of negotiations. Generally, judging from everything, Levon Ter-Petrosyan has poor relations with morality. I think he needs all this lie to keep his supporters and the opportunity to guide them.