April 11, 2008 - 17:08 AMT
Armenia's first President called on his supporters to stop hunger strike
Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan called on his supporters to stop hunger strike, take care of their health and demonstrate resoluteness and iron will for further struggle, Ter-Petrosyan's headquarters reported.

"On April 9, one leader of the ruling regime replaced the other. The shift was exercised by means of mass violations and violence against peaceful demonstrators. Western countries did not go beyond severe but empty and irresponsible statements, which actually served the purpose of the authorities," Ter-Petrosyan said. "The European structures applied double standards and instead of supporting the Armenian people, who struggled for democracy and freedom, took the side of the illegal power."

"To weaken Armenia's positions in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process, western powers prefer weak and vulnerable dictatorship rather than a power that enjoys confidence of the nation," Ter-Petrosyan said.