Emergency rule imposition prevented severe popular shock

PanARMENIAN.Net - "I am confident that imposition of state of emergency in Yerevan prevented a severe popular shock," Armenian President Robert Kocharian told a news conference today.



"No violations were fixed during past 20 days. The state of emergency will be lifted today and I am hopeful that no incidents will follow. All state bodies operate in ordinary routine. The President-elect should assume office in a governable and stable country. It's my obligation," he said. "Yerevan has always been the most peaceful capital city and I am hopeful it will remain as such."



"We should derive lessons from the recent events. The state should strengthen the popular security mechanisms to protect democracy from the diktat of the crowd and chaos," the President said.



"I could never imagine that people capable to burn and break property with the purpose to undermine the state system will be found in Armenia," he said, adding, "Police were not ordered to commence fire. They act as necessary to secure the state and population. We all need to cure the March 1 wounds."