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Baghdasarian 'In Coalition Talks With Sarkisian'

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  • Baghdasarian 'In Coalition Talks With Sarkisian'

    BAGHDASARIAN 'IN COALITION TALKS WITH SARKISIAN'
    By Astghik Bedevian

    Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
    Feb 28 2008

    Opposition leader Artur Baghdasarian is discussing with Prime Minister
    Serzh Sarkisian the possibility of joining a new coalition government
    which Armenia's president-elect has pledged to form after taking
    office, a pro-government lawmaker said on Thursday.

    Sarkisian has offered to defuse rising political tensions in Armenia
    by cutting a power-sharing deal with those "constructive" opposition
    forces that will recognize his victory in last week's disputed
    presidential election. He said on Wednesday that several of his
    election challengers have responded positively to the offer.

    In the words of Eduard Sharmazanov, a parliament deputy and spokesman
    for Sarkisian's Republican Party (HHK), those include Baghdasarian
    and his Orinats Yerkir Party. "We are now discussing that with Orinats
    Yerkir as well," he told reporters.

    According to the government-controlled Central Election Commission,
    Baghdasarian won over 16 percent of the vote, trailing both
    Sarkisian and the main opposition candidate, former President Levon
    Ter-Petrosian. The former parliament speaker on Tuesday described the
    February 19 vote as deeply flawed but stopped short of challenging
    the legitimacy of Sarkisian's victory. He promised to ascertain his
    and his party's position by Thursday.

    Baghdasarian and other Orinats Yerkir leaders were meeting late in
    the evening to discuss their next steps. An Orinats Yerkir spokeswoman
    said their decision will be submitted to the party's larger governing
    board which is scheduled to meet on Friday. She did not deny that the
    issue of teaming up with Sarkisian is on the agenda of the discussions.

    Orinats Yerkir Party was already a member of Armenia's governing
    coalition from 2003-2006.
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