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Prosecutor's Allies Set To Steer Clear Of 2007 Vote

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  • Prosecutor's Allies Set To Steer Clear Of 2007 Vote

    PROSECUTOR'S ALLIES SET TO STEER CLEAR OF 2007 VOTE
    By Astghik Bedevian

    Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
    Nov 1 2006

    A recently formed political party widely linked with Prosecutor-General
    Aghvan Hovsepian signaled on Wednesday its intention not to contest
    next year's parliamentary elections, in a surprise move that will spark
    speculation about far-reaching deals cut within Armenia's leadership.

    The governing board of Association for Armenia party is scheduled
    to meet on Thursday to discuss the issue. One of its top leaders,
    parliament deputy Vahram Baghdasarian, told RFE/RL that he will push
    for the party's pullout from the unfolding parliamentary race.

    The party, which claims to have about 40,000 members, said as
    recently as last summer that it intends to make a strong showing in
    the elections. Levon Khachatrian, another Association for Armenia
    leader close to Hovsepian, claimed that it can win them and form the
    next government.

    "We have no goal to win a majority [in parliament] and things
    like that," countered Baghdasarian. He made the point that the only
    "realistic" way of winning elections in Armenia is massive vote buying
    and that he is categorically against resorting to that.

    "Everyone sees what kind of mechanisms exist for winning votes,"
    said Baghdasarian. "We have to decide whether we will use those
    mechanisms. In a country having social problems, it is obvious how
    votes are won."

    "We have spoiled our people, our voters. I don't deny that," he added.

    The remarks followed a weekend local election in Yerevan's Ajapnyak
    district that were easily won by Hovsepian's brother Ruben. The
    victory is widely seen as the result of a deal cut between the
    influential prosecutor and the governing Republican Party of Armenia
    (HHK) that unexpectedly decided not to field a candidate for the post
    of Ajapnyak mayor.

    Baghdasarian denied that the Association for Armenia's likely refusal
    to participate in the parliamentary elections is part of a deal cut
    with the HHK's unofficial leader, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian,
    or President Robert Kocharian. He made it clear that his party
    will have candidates in some of the country's 41-single mandate
    constituencies. The remaining 90 seats in the Armenian parliament
    will be distributed on the party list basis.

    Although Hovsepian has repeatedly denied any connection with the
    Association for Armenia, he is widely believed to have been behind
    its launch earlier this year. The development highlighted his growing
    political ambitions, with some commentators suggesting that he is
    one of Kocharian's potential successors.
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