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EX-PREMIER, EX-FOREIGN MINISTER DO NOT RULE OUT ELECTORAL BLOC
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 23 2006
Two prominent oppositionists who served as Armenia's premier and
foreign minister in the early 1990s do not rule out that they may
team up ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
In an RFE/RL interview on Thursday leader of the opposition
National-Democratic Union (AZhM) Vazgen Manukian denied that his
cooperation with Zharangutyun (Heritage) party leader Raffi Hovannisian
is a 'pro-western bloc established at dictates from abroad'.
Manukian, however, did not rule out that the initiative of the civil
forum will ultimately mount to an electoral alliance with Armenia's
ex-foreign minister.
"Only a power change does not solve the problem. It is a necessary
but not sufficient condition for the public to become masters of
this country," Manukian, who served as the country's prime minister
in 1990-1991, told RFE/RL on Thursday.
The civil forum will meet on Saturday, with its initiators saying that
"the doors will be open for anyone to attend."
However, neither Manukian, nor Hovannisian gave concrete names of
people or forces that will attend the forum.
"I think that almost all of our compatriots want our country to be
free, fair, and citizens want to feel not alienated from political
processes, they want to rediscover their belonging to the Republic
of Armenia," Hovannisian told RFE/RL.
Manukian said that he and Hovannisian share common views on some
fundamental issues, such as democracy, freedom, national issues,
including the Karabakh problem.
"We want to establish a structure that would have its own life
irrespective of whether Vazgen Manukian and Raffi Hovannisian are in
this structure or not," he said.
Manukian denied that this would be a pro-western alliance.
"Knowing me for so long, can you describe be as pro-western
politician?" the AZhM leader said, adding that he can speak both
against the West and Russia whenever the interests of Armenia require
that. "I don't need to prove it once more that I am what I am,"
Manukian stressed.
"If we participate in elections and seek to establish a bloc I
think naturally that we will see it based on cooperation with Raffi
Hovannisian plus other political figures. But now this question is
not under discussion," Manukian said.
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 23 2006
Two prominent oppositionists who served as Armenia's premier and
foreign minister in the early 1990s do not rule out that they may
team up ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
In an RFE/RL interview on Thursday leader of the opposition
National-Democratic Union (AZhM) Vazgen Manukian denied that his
cooperation with Zharangutyun (Heritage) party leader Raffi Hovannisian
is a 'pro-western bloc established at dictates from abroad'.
Manukian, however, did not rule out that the initiative of the civil
forum will ultimately mount to an electoral alliance with Armenia's
ex-foreign minister.
"Only a power change does not solve the problem. It is a necessary
but not sufficient condition for the public to become masters of
this country," Manukian, who served as the country's prime minister
in 1990-1991, told RFE/RL on Thursday.
The civil forum will meet on Saturday, with its initiators saying that
"the doors will be open for anyone to attend."
However, neither Manukian, nor Hovannisian gave concrete names of
people or forces that will attend the forum.
"I think that almost all of our compatriots want our country to be
free, fair, and citizens want to feel not alienated from political
processes, they want to rediscover their belonging to the Republic
of Armenia," Hovannisian told RFE/RL.
Manukian said that he and Hovannisian share common views on some
fundamental issues, such as democracy, freedom, national issues,
including the Karabakh problem.
"We want to establish a structure that would have its own life
irrespective of whether Vazgen Manukian and Raffi Hovannisian are in
this structure or not," he said.
Manukian denied that this would be a pro-western alliance.
"Knowing me for so long, can you describe be as pro-western
politician?" the AZhM leader said, adding that he can speak both
against the West and Russia whenever the interests of Armenia require
that. "I don't need to prove it once more that I am what I am,"
Manukian stressed.
"If we participate in elections and seek to establish a bloc I
think naturally that we will see it based on cooperation with Raffi
Hovannisian plus other political figures. But now this question is
not under discussion," Manukian said.