Robert Kocharyan: The evil that this government embodies will be  defeated

ArmInfo. The evil that this government embodies will be defeated,  s stated by Robert Kocharyan, Armenia's second president, leader, and candidate for  prime minister for the "Armenia" bloc, when announcing the format of its participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections on March 16  in Yerevan. 

"We are ready to do anything for the sake of our homeland. Today we  are here to announce  our participation in the elections. We are  determined and our goal is victory. I am confident that the evil that  this government embodies will lose. I have been fighting against them  since the first days of their rise to power, and I will not rest  until they are removed. This is also what sets me apart from other  candidates for prime minister. But this is alone is not sufficient.  Those responsible for the deaths of thousands of our heroes, those  who surrendered Artsakh, and those who are today forcing the people  to forget their heroic history must be held accountable," Kocharyan  noted.

The politician noted that Armenian society is currently at a strange  point in its life, where it is being persuaded that its own history  is a burden that holds it back, not a foundation for moving forward,  and that Armenian identity is a temporary phenomenon that can be  changed once a year. "We say "no" to this dangerous absurdity. For  the "Armenia" bloc, our identity, history, and patriotism are the  driving force in building a progressive state," the politician said.  He recalled the chaos reigning in international relations and  expressed his conviction that we will have to survive "under the laws  of the jungle" for several more years until a new world order is  established.

"In the current reality, security will remain one of the key  challenges facing Armenia. Armenia needs a combat-ready army, a  strong leader, and a powerful ally to neutralize all threats through  joint efforts.  Armenia's foreign policy must be predictable,  understandable, and reject playing on the contradictions between  superpowers," the former Armenian president added. Kocharyan  emphasized that he can ensure the most reliable format for Armenia's  security. "We support peace with Azerbaijan, but it must be based not  on the 'I swear on my father' model, but on real security guarantees.  This is especially important in a situation where 'power of law ' has  been replaced by 'low of power.' Our goal is to become the most  organized and effective country in the South Caucasus. Only by doing  so can we be of interest to superpowers and partners. Only then will  our interests be properly respected. Selling national interests for a  single photo is humiliating and criminal. We will dramatically  improve governance by replacing the current slogan 'I am the  government' with 'a collegial, inclusive government,'" he noted,  promising to restore order in this area and ensure progressive  economic growth if he comes to power.

The former Armenian president emphasized the importance of restoring  the country's attractiveness for business and foreign investors,  emphasizing the important role of the diaspora in this regard.  Kocharyan added that they will create up to 35,000-40,000 jobs  annually until unemployment falls to 5-6% nationwide.  He then  touched on poverty in the country and the plight of pensioners,  noting that one in five Armenian citizens lives in poverty. He  promised to address this issue, including by raising pensions to the  basic subsistence level and subsequently indexing them. The  politician also promised a decisive fight against crime, drug  addiction, and political persecution, as well as improving the  healthcare system.  "You may love me or not love me. A leader isn't  there for love; there are more pleasant things for that. A leader is  there to improve the quality of your life. It's important that my  team and I love this land, these people, and are capable of ensuring  this prosperity, for the sake of our children and our shared future.   Together, we can," Kocharyan concluded.