ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "MOST IMPORTANT AIM IS TO WIN PEACE&q

[MosJan]

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "MOST IMPORTANT AIM IS TO WIN PEACE"

07.09.2001

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenia has repeatedly declared its devotion to the packet resolution of the conflict on Nagorno Artsax," – President of Armenia Robert Kocharian stated at Internet conference held by "GazetaSNG.ru" portal. He stressed that it were not territorial problems but the matter of the people's self-determination that underlay the Artsax conflict. Answering the question whether Armenia feared resumption of the war against Nagorno Artsax by Azerbaijan, the President noted both sides had established rather powerful defense systems during the past years. He said there was much certainty that both in military and political contexts as well as in the country's people's opinion, the one who unleashed a new war would lose. Evaluating the potential of the opposing parties, Kocharian pointed out that the Armenian economy development rates were no slower than the Azerbaijani's. "By the way, - he noted, - oil romanticism in politics disappointed many politicians".

Concluding his speech he said the main point for Azerbaijan and Armenia and all countries of the Southern Caucasus was to recognize that the most important aim was to win peace.

 

 

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[MosJan]

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Natalia Sashtik, deputy chief editor of the Gazetasng.ru: Dear friends, we are beginning an on-line conference with the president of Armenia Robert Kocharian. We would like to thank all the visitors to our web site for their questions. These questions will be answered by president Kocharian on a priority order. Unfortunately, we are short of time, because of the over-employment of our guest. Armenia is getting ready today for some key measures, among them the visit of president Vladimir Putin, visits of the heads of all Orthodox churches and Pope John Paul II to Armenia.

Mr. Kocharian, we hope you are there, let me once again to thank you for courtesy to participate in our conference, which, as we can see, has caused a big interest. Taking the advantage we would like to congratulate you on your birthday and to remind our visitors that the president of Armenia has become 47. Our congratulations, Mr. President.

 

R.K. Thank you for your congratulations. I would also like to take advantage and congratulate all the citizens of Armenia and our Diaspora compatriots and Armenia’s friends with the upcoming 10-th anniversary of our independence. I would also like to thank all the participants to the conference. I am happy to communicate with you. Your questions are very interesting and I believe we shall have a useful conversation.

 

Andrey Simonov, Moscow. What do you think about virtual communication, many people of your generation say online chats are meaningless and even harmful? Do you allow your children to log on to Internet?

 

R.K. Unfortunately, I do not have much free time to use Internet, but everyday a pile of materials retrieved from Internet is laid on my table. There are also many e-mails coming. This, for the time being, restricts my communication with Internet. But my children use it and very actively. I learn many things from them. I welcome this and do not pose any restrictions.

 

Armen Karapetian, economist. When you were running for presidency, you used to say that Armenia needed an economic breakthrough, but the country continues suffering from heavy economic conditions. Do you think that you have managed to improve, though a little, the state of affairs?

 

R.K. Economically strong Armenia is my number 1 objective. You are right, we are continuing to resolve many problems in economy and they still remain Armenia’s priorities, but I would like to say that the essence and character of the problems have changed and they are different from what we had a couple of years ago. In the past years the economic environment in Armenia has seen a significant change. The main thing I think I have succeeded in is that we have shifted from the conception of survival to the conception of active development. We have reformed the tax legislation, targeting business development, the judicial system, and thanks to it the businessmen have got real guarantees for protection. Approaches towards privatization have also changed: we demand specific and clearly cut guarantees from potential buyers that the to be privatized companies should be operational and that the investments fixed in takeover contacts should be made. A as a result of all this some leading Armenian enterprises are gathering momentum. The main goal is advancement in all directions. Armenia is resolving its economic problems and the content of these problems is different from what they were several years ago, the development dynamic is also different. Of course, we all would like to see faster growth and more tangible results, but I believe this all will come.

 

Panarmenian. Net, Yerevan. Leaders of many countries have different viewpoints regarding Internet. Possibilities for uncontrolled exchange of information cause concerns and cautiousness. Internet makes people less controllable and less dependent from the state. What does the leadership of Armenia thinks about Internet development?

 

R.K. The entire core and the bulk of reforms which are underway in Armenia is to make people as less dependant on the state as possible. Government bodies should be overseen by the public and it is here where Internet provides great opportunities. The power should become transparent and predictable. Such methods of work are entering into life. Practically all state bodies have their own web sites where they should post data, which have public importance. Besides, very interesting and important projects of informational, entertainment character are being implemented in the Armenian domain. A project that was collecting texts of the Armenian literature and historiography and posting them on Internet was awarded presidential prize. This, I think speaks about what I think about Internet. Internet is a serous tool for the president in his work