March 12, 2003 - 23:10 AMT
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CALLED OPPOSITION NOT TO PLAY WITH COUNTRY IMAGE
The Armenian opposition attitude insults the country image at the international arena. Armenian president Robert Kocharian said at a press conference today. At the same time he called the opposition forces "to respect their country." The state head recognized that after the presidential election "certain tension" was created in the country, which could not be called "a domestic crisis." R. Kocharian considered the attempts to cause collision of the supporters of the president and the opposition as "unacceptable and dangerous. " The latest actions of the opposition forces, in the president's opinion, should be considered within the context of the coming parliamentary election. One can understand the tactics employed by them, but no one is entitled to threaten the stability in the country to attain political goals, R. Kocharian emphasized. The opposition has the opportunity to act legally, and I can only welcome its intention to appeal against the election returns in the Constitutional Court, the Armenian leader stated.