Ex-PM Karapetyan extends support to second president ahead of snap elections

Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has extended support to the second president amiid the campaign for the upcoming early parliamentary election.

Emphasizing the extreme importance of the polls slated for June 20, Karapetyan expressed his confidence that Robert Kocharyan (currently the leader of Armenia Alliance) will be the one to bring Armenia out of the post-war crisis.

“Our country has plunged into a deep crisis in the aftermath of the war; hence it is urgent today to halt its course with every possible effort,” he said, highlighting the weakened efficiency of the army and the fledgeling security of Armenia and Artsakh as top challenges requiring rapid action.  

Meantime the former premier outlined such pressing concerns as the existing socio-economic situation, the divisions and tensions in the society and the crisis in the relations with the Diaspora.

“The moment is crucial, with multiple and ominous challenges and solutions requiring a limited and high professionalism,” he said, calling for prompt efforts to restore national security and re-establish tolerance and peace internally.

Karapetyan also stressed the importance of developing the image of a predictable and trustworthy partner in international relations and revising the relations with the Diaspora to step up the pro-Armenian lobbying globally.

“Our present-day reality is like a landmine which our country must cross.

“It has no possibility to overpass it.

“Hence it is necessary to cross the path with maximum efficiency and minimum losses.

“It is necessary to realize the price of any error by each of us and the impermissibility of adventurism.

“Robert Kocharyan is the one to secure that. His experience, accumulated over the course of his tenure in different government posts, as well as in a competitive and multi-cultural business environment – coupled with the individual characters and managerial skills - potentially enable him to bring the country out of this crisis by forming a professional team to pave the way to a welfare future.

 “He will create an enabling environment promoting the maximum realization of the existing potential in our society to allow us to have us a national, modern, rational and effective state.

“I suggest that we all head to the polls, thinking once again with a sober mind of the situation we are in and the challenges we are facing, as well as the team which is capable to withstand all that, leading the country to development,” Karapetyan said, wishing the voters in Armenia peace, logic and “maximum high spirits”.