Tweet
EX-RULING PARTY URGES OPPOSITION SUPPORT FOR TER-PETROSIAN
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 7 2007
Armenia's main opposition forces should choose former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian as their joint candidate in next year's presidential
election if they want to achieve regime change, a leader of his
Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) party said on Friday.
The failure by those forces to form alliances is seen as one of the
main reason for the Armenian opposition's poor showing in the May
12 parliamentary elections. A growing number of their leaders are
now voicing support for the idea of fielding a single opposition
candidate in the presidential ballot due in February or March 2008.
Some have reportedly agreed to open negotiations on the issue soon.
Aram Manukian, deputy chairman of the HHSh, also backed the idea,
saying that the fragmented and demoralized opposition simply has no
other choice. He insisted that Ter-Petrosian is the only politician
capable of defeating the ruling establishment's most likely candidate,
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, in the presidential ballot.
"Unfortunately, I just don't see any other candidate who can be strong
and experienced, have a program and the ability to bring together
even political forces at odds with each other, and then win with that
team and, ultimately and most importantly, hold on to his votes,"
Manukian told journalists. "In that sense, I think Ter-Petrosian has
the best chances."
Manukian downplayed the fact that the reclusive ex-president, who has
kept an extremely low profile ever since his resignation over nine
years ago, has left no indication that he is ready to make a political
comeback and join the presidential race. "Have you ever heard Levon
Ter-Petrosian or his office say the opposite?" argued Manukian.
Ter-Petrosian made one of his most recent public appearances in late
March when he briefly attended a congress of the HHSh, of which he
remains the unofficial top leader. As always, he refused to take any
questions from reporters.
The HHSh chairman, Ararat Zurabian, claimed at the time that
Ter-Petrosian, 62, will "definitely" run for president.
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 7 2007
Armenia's main opposition forces should choose former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian as their joint candidate in next year's presidential
election if they want to achieve regime change, a leader of his
Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) party said on Friday.
The failure by those forces to form alliances is seen as one of the
main reason for the Armenian opposition's poor showing in the May
12 parliamentary elections. A growing number of their leaders are
now voicing support for the idea of fielding a single opposition
candidate in the presidential ballot due in February or March 2008.
Some have reportedly agreed to open negotiations on the issue soon.
Aram Manukian, deputy chairman of the HHSh, also backed the idea,
saying that the fragmented and demoralized opposition simply has no
other choice. He insisted that Ter-Petrosian is the only politician
capable of defeating the ruling establishment's most likely candidate,
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, in the presidential ballot.
"Unfortunately, I just don't see any other candidate who can be strong
and experienced, have a program and the ability to bring together
even political forces at odds with each other, and then win with that
team and, ultimately and most importantly, hold on to his votes,"
Manukian told journalists. "In that sense, I think Ter-Petrosian has
the best chances."
Manukian downplayed the fact that the reclusive ex-president, who has
kept an extremely low profile ever since his resignation over nine
years ago, has left no indication that he is ready to make a political
comeback and join the presidential race. "Have you ever heard Levon
Ter-Petrosian or his office say the opposite?" argued Manukian.
Ter-Petrosian made one of his most recent public appearances in late
March when he briefly attended a congress of the HHSh, of which he
remains the unofficial top leader. As always, he refused to take any
questions from reporters.
The HHSh chairman, Ararat Zurabian, claimed at the time that
Ter-Petrosian, 62, will "definitely" run for president.