Kocharian: I believe that the Russian side spared us by not calling it an act of capitulation

Attempts are being made to spread the notion that the danger of war may increase with my coming to power, and I assume that this will be the most important thesis used against me during the campaign. This information comes from a statement released by the "Armenia" alliance, which particularly states:

“The most peaceful years in Armenia's history were between 1998-2008. The forecast was different. In 1998, they were trying to convince our people that if I were elected president, there would be a war. The exact opposite happened. The guarantee of peace in this region is primarily the weight of the country, how the country is perceived, whether the army is combat-ready, and what kind of relations the country has with its allied nations. All of this, in combination, creates a situation where any military encroachment against the country becomes impossible if you are implementing the right policies.

We experienced this war and this disgraceful defeat precisely because a lot of such fundamental issues were violated. They were making foolish mistakes one after the other, which created an impression among our opponents that this was the time when they could solve their problems through war. What was bad in that document that could be done to us has already happened. This is not a case where a large part has already been done, and later they present something else to inflict additional damage on Armenia. Yes, that document is not going to change because it handed over Karabakh, Lachin, and all the territories. But we will prevent the emergence of documents that create additional problems. This is for sure.

Now, whoever wants us to find ourselves in a situation like in Syunik and Gegharkunik, please vote for today’s political team. And you will have the guaranteed situation for the next few years. Yes, I am confident that we are capable of getting the most out of this created situation for both Armenia and Artsakh. These people simply are not capable. I don't even know the reason.

We must be honest that what was signed was not a treaty. It was an act of capitulation. Simply put, I believe the Russian side spared us by not calling it an act of capitulation.”