Former President Robert Kocharian

YEREVAN—Former President Robert Kocharian discussed the so-called “dialogue” between President Sarkisian and Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, saying the nature of the dialogue will determine its benefits or harm.

“If the dialogue aims to establishing civilized rules for political activity and rejects all radical approaches, then I’ll see that as positive,” Kocharian said in an exclusive interview with Mediamax news agency. “Stability is a necessary condition for economic growth, and this is what Armenia needs most today.”

The former president also said that that above-envisioned dialogue would also pave the way for fair elections.

However, “if the elections are being held under the ‘to be or not to be’ motto, then opportunities for falsifying exponentially increase,” explained Kocharian.

He warned that “if the dialogue involves the artificial parameters of a political contest—where both sides would mutually benefit—then it, most likely, will be collusion behind the voters’ back,” which will give way to standstill and increase corruption.

Kocharian warned that such a scenario would adversely impact the population, who will become pawns in the games between the authorities and the Armenian National Congress.

In his interview, Kocharian also discussed the role Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Movement played in the March 1, 2008 unrest, expressing hope that the newly ordered probe into the incidents will shed light on that.

“By the way, if the leader of the opposition did not sit at home, but tried to deter the crowds that he instigated, I am sure deaths would have been avoided,” explained Kocharian.