RA Leader: Having Oil Doesn't Mean Having Efficient Army and Economy

PanARMENIAN.Net - "If Azerbaijan is convinced that time works for them why does it take part in the talks? There is a variant that its participation is merely an imitation. This explains the failure of the talks. But there can be another explanation as well," Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview with the leading Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh TV Channels. In his words, any settlement of the Karabakh issue supposes adoption of serious decisions in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. There are some problems but the parties adapted themselves to the situation that had been created. According to the RA leader, change of situation will cause new problems both in internal and foreign policy, what will demand decision making. "If you are not ready to demonstrate strong political will the expression "Time works for us. Why should we make any decision if later we can receive more?" is the best reasoning. I can say the same to explain the position of "avoiding". They say, "We have oil, we will become rich and will be able to impose our decision." They compare the state budget of Armenia with the budget of Azerbaijan…" he added.



"I would like to comment on the issue. To have oil doesn't mean to have efficient army and economy. Anyway, the world experience shows that the most developed countries do not possess oil resources and it's unproductive to compare these two issues. On the contrary, one can say that the oil factor often demoralizes the economy from the viewpoint of corruption and clan system formation. It's also obvious that the oil factor weakens adherence to reforms. We should speak of efficient economy and depth of reforms that could raise the competitive strength of the state in the region. Speaking of the moral side of the issue, Armenian society could never make a hero of a criminal who beheaded a sleeping man with an axe. A society that perceives a criminal as a hero is incapable to achieve success. This difference proves our advantage and our strength," Robert Kocharian said.