The President resigned 13 years ago
On February 3, 1998, "under the pressure of notorious forces", First President of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigned and refrained from making comments in order to not intensify the situation in the country.
"Nothing unusual has happened. The party of peace and dignified reconciliation in Armenia has simply been defeated," said Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the text of his resignation and advised everyone not to make things complicated. "The party of peace has been defeated in many countries that are more developed than Armenia, for example, Israel, but that is transient."
Ter-Petrosyan called on maintaining tranquility, being restraint and holding new fair and transparent presidential elections, considering that as the guarantee for keeping the reputation of the country abroad. He thanked his supporters who had unreservedly stayed by his side throughout the years for their confidence in him.
"If I have decided to resign, believe me, it means that I have considered the alternative as a dangerous to our country. If I have done something good, I don't expect gratitude and I apologize for what I haven't done. I wish you all the best," said Levon Ter-Petrosyan in closing.
The President's resignation was followed by the resignations of the NA Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, ministers, as well as other pivotal political officials and power made a smooth transition to the hands of today's authorities without any grave convulsions.
The change of power came after the session of the Security Council where Levon Ter-Petrosyan had presented a version for settling the Artsakh conflict, but the nationalist wing of government refused to approve it. Those days, the number one topic being discussed was the article "War or Peace" and unlike the current authorities, Levon Ter-Petrosyan kept no secrets from the society, the political field and Karabakh.
Some analysts claim that what happened in 1998 was simply a conspiracy which transferred power to the "notorious forces". Some former high-ranking officials say the last chord of change of power sounded on October 27, 1999.
In February 1998, the Armenian nation witnessed an ideological action when people who had come with the President and were implementing his programs stepped down from power based on the approaches of the team and principles after the resignation.
Within two days, the part of government that resigned turned into the former government and is currently the radical opposition.
