ROBERT KOCHARIAN OFFERED ARMENIAN OPPOSITION NOT TO
WORRY MUCH OVER FAILURE OF ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE POWER IN REPUBLIC

The developments in Georgia, Ukraine and Kirghizia can give cause for analysis as they had both common features and obvious differences, Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated during the meeting with the teaching staff and students of the Yerevan State University, IA Regnum reports. When commenting on the common features of the “revolution processes”, the President noted that they all took place at the period the elections were held, i.e at the period when the “society was maximally trained”. According to Robert Kocharian the factor of weak power, which was not able to solve current problems, was present in all the three states. “Under Eduard Shevarnadze the people did not get salary for 8-10 months; pensions were delayed for over a year. The situation in Kigrhizia was no better – with the 5-million population the state budget made $300 million. To compare, the Armenian state budget makes $800 million with the population less in number”, the Armenian President stated adding that in Ukraine despite the economic growth the leadership’s control was weak, the western and eastern parts of the state were conflicting and a number of other global factors existed as well. At the same time, in the President’s words, people, who earlier occupied high administrative posts and acquired the image of young reformers, came to power. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli belong to this class of people. Thus, a change of generations has taken place as it happened in Armenia in 1991 and 1998. According to Robert Kocharian, all the above mentioned factors are absent in Armenia. “Active and constructive leaders are encouraged in our country”, he noted. When addressing the Armenian opposition Robert Kocharian offered them not to worry over the failure of the attempts to change power in the republic. “It does not mean that our opposition is bad, the matter is that our country is much better”, the President stated.