Presidential Elections 2008 In Armenia March 1

[ED]

aldough I like Raffi very much but he made some politicly not so correct statments in his short stay as foreign minister, i hope he has overcome this fact and matured (politicly) and yes I would like him as a President.

my second choice would be Serg Sargisian.

[ED]

Who you think should/will be the next president of Armenia? Here is the list of the candidates:

 

1. Aram Sargsyan

 

2. Armen Ayvazyan

 

3. Artashes Gegamyan

 

4. Artur Bagdasaryan

 

5. David Shanazaryan

 

6. Gagik Harutunyan

 

7. Raffi Hovhanissian

 

8. Serge Sargsyan

 

9. Stepan Demirjyan

 

shanazaryan? how well do you know this guy? and why would anyone vote for this compolsive gambler!

[Takoush]

I have thought all along for Raffi Hovhanissian to be President.

[Sasun]

Prominent Oppositionist Set To Lead Armenian 'Oligarchic' Party

 

http://www.armenialiberty.org

By Ruzanna Stepanian

 

Victor Dallakian, an outspoken opposition leader, on Wednesday pointedly declined to refute reports that he will lead a new political party set up by one of Armenia's wealthiest and most powerful men close to President Robert Kocharian.

 

The party called Prosperous Armenia is said to be harboring far-reaching political ambitions that will manifest themselves in the next national elections. Its founder, Gagik Tsarukian, is the official owner of the Multi Group holding company that comprises dozens of small and large businesses. Sources close to his party say Dallakian, who is currently affiliated with the country's main opposition alliance, is the one who will top the list of its candidates for the 2007 parliamentary election.

 

Dallakian effectively confirmed the information in an interview with RFE/RL. "I would just say that nothing is ruled out in politics," he said. "There will be quite interesting political developments in Armenia in 2006. I do not rule out the emergence of new serious political forces that will play a serious part in Armenia's political life."

 

"I believe that the Prosperous Armenia party may have a serious influence on future socioeconomic and political developments in Armenia," he added.

 

Dallakian has until now been one of the most bitter detractors of Kocharian, having referred to his administration as a "junta" and "clan." He was at the forefront of the Armenian opposition's unsuccessful attempt to topple Kocharian with a campaign of street protests in Yerevan in the spring of 2004.

 

The veteran lawmaker was also one of several prominent oppositionists who were attacked and beaten up by unknown men at the time. He blamed the authorities for the violence.

 

Tsarukian, by contrast, has maintained a warm rapport with Kocharian and his chief lieutenant and most likely successor, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. The burly tycoon's close ties with the ruling regime are thought to have been instrumental in the rapid growth of his business empire which now involves a wide range of economic activities. Some local observers believe that he is entering big politics with Kocharian's and Sarkisian's blessing.

 

In a recent televised interview, Tsarukian promised to unveil the make-up of his party's governing board soon. He said it will mainly comprise well-known intellectuals and other public figures, rather than government officials and wealthy individuals. Still, it will almost certainly receive behind-the-scenes support from other feared "oligarchs," notably Samvel Aleksanian. The latter enjoys a highly lucrative monopoly on imports of sugar, wheat and cooking oil to Armenia.

 

A source familiar with Tsarukian's thinking told RFE/RL that Prosperous Armenia aims to win the 2007 election and will field a candidate for the presidential election of 2008. The source said it has already been offered to team up with one of the three main pro-Kocharian parties represented in government. The offers were turned down by Tsarukian, he added.

 

Dallakian predicted that the Republican Party of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian will no longer boast the largest parliament faction after the 2007 vote. "I think that given the creation of new political forces, notably the Prosperous Armenia party, and the existing opposition, the Republican Party will hardly have such a weighty presence in the [next] National Assembly," he said.

 

"This force is not being created to bring any individual to power. Prosperous Armenia should contest elections on its own," added Dallakian.

 

Tsarukian is seen as the most influential of Armenia's government-connected "oligarchs" who are not averse to flaunting their wealth amid widespread poverty. They usually live in huge mansions and travel in motorcades made up of luxury cars with virtually identical license plates. Most of them hold sway in a particular area of the country. Tsarukian and Aleksanian, for example, ran unopposed and were easily elected to parliament from their de facto fiefdoms in the last election held in May 2003.

 

This increasingly entrenched system has repeatedly been denounced as "feudal" by opposition leaders.

[Sasun]

Dodi Gago owns half of Armenian businesses yet he reported losses and did not pay any taxes to the budget. In effect he is a large scale thief who is robbing the underprevileged part of the society who are depending on governement help. Now, this guy has political ambitions and is setting up a party. What is going on? The thiefs are not satisfied with what they have, now they must own the country 100%. This is really really troubling. Victor Dallakian or any politician aligning with these thugs are equally responsible.

[MosJan]

Sasun jan inchpes karogh enq imanal te HAyastanum ov e TAX v@jarum ?? orinak Demirjyaner@ vorqan en tvel ? kam hents et Opozitsyai mejqin kangnats Aznim NAmusiv Orinakeli Gortsararner@ vroqan en v@jarel ???? unenq et hnaravorutyun@ imanalu ???

[ED]

Hayastanin Dodik gagoner petq chen ayl Pinochet e petq, nuyn opositsian voch mi banov chi tarbervelu hents antsav ishxanutyan glux, estex karevor@ line gagoi, robiki kam el hents es opositsiai hamar voch te joxovrti socialakan problemnernen karevor, ayl irents sepakan shah@ u ator@

[Sasun]

Sasun jan inchpes karogh enq imanal te HAyastanum ov e TAX v@jarum ?? orinak Demirjyaner@ vorqan en tvel ? kam hents et Opozitsyai mejqin kangnats Aznim NAmusiv Orinakeli Gortsararner@ vroqan en v@jarel ???? unenq et hnaravorutyun@ imanalu ???

Movses jan, vonts vor menq IRSin vtsharum enq hima Haiastanum el nuin dzevov e, bolori tax reportnern el karogh enq imanal, masnavorapets xoshor gortsararneri. Ov vor ishxanutiunneri het lav e vnasner kam shat qich yekamut en report arel antsial tari. Dodi Gagon el vnas e report arel.

[MosJan]

Sasun jan Vnas e report arel vropes kortsrats $$$ te Nor Nerdrummner e katerel tarber dzernarkutyuneri yev kam n@virat@vutyuner /????/

yete chem sxalvum bavakanin mets $$$$ e nerdnum nor busnesner mej yev z@gali gumarner n@viratsvutyun e katarum

hima yes chgiteem te HAyastan n@viratvutyun@ inchpes e HArkeri vra azdum - sakayn mez mot USA @endhanur HArki %15~20 karrogh es Zexchel n@voratvutyan patjarov

[MosJan]

Sasun jan indz jist haskatsy yes Dodi Advacat@ chem sakayn Hayastanum sovorakan mi ban e iys orerin

[Sasun]

Haskanum em Mosjan, baits bolori achqi araj mi poqr xumb shat arag harstanum en, u sranq bolor@ kaper unen ghekavarutuan het. Vonts karogh e patahel vor vnasner unenan yete parz yerevum e irents aprelu dzevits vor gnalov harstanum en? Hima harker mutsum en miain ain gortsaterer@ voronq kasharq chen talis. Edited January 11, 2006 by Sasun

[MosJan]

Sasun jan dranq bolorn el nuyn en

if Vano is the man of the year 2005 then not much to talk is there ??

[Takoush]

Սիրելիներ Եդուարդ, Մովսէս եւ կամ Սասուն;

 

Շատ կը խնդրեմ ինց քիչ մը ավելի բացատրեցէք եւ լուսաբանեցէք. Արդեօք սա Տօտի Կակօ ըսուածը դա Ծարուկեանն՞ է: Եւ յետոյ, Քոչարեանը այդ քողին ինչու կ՚ընդառաչէ եւ եթէ զինքը ընտռէն միթէ Հայաստանի վիճակը շատ ավելի չի՞ վատթառանար. եւ յետոյ ի՞նչ պիտի ըլլայ խեղճ ժողովուրդին վիճակը հոդ: Արդեոք այդ անիծեալ քողը կը կարծէք որ իր մուրազին պիտի կարենայ տիրանա՞լ: Երբ այս լուրը արի սիրտս շատ նեղուեցաւ եւ մտահոգ եմ Հայաստանի եւ հոնտեղի արդէն խեղճ աղքատ Հայ ժողովուրդի վիճակին:

 

Վերեվի լուրին մէչը կըսէ թէ արդէն սա կեղտոտը դաքսի խաղեր կը խաղայ եւ կը կողոպտէ կոր կառավարութեան. եւ հիմակ կուզէ լիովին կողոպտել եւ աւելի կեղեքել ժողովուրդին, եթէ կառավարութիւնը մատ ունի եւ հետն է այս քողին, ուրեմն ժողովուրդը ի՞նչ կրնայ ընել որ աւելի չկեղեքղուի՞ երբ այս անիծեալը ընտռուի: Եվ նաեւ ի՞նչ կրնայ ընել ժողովուրդը որ սա կեղտոտը չնտռուի:

 

Խնդրեմ ինձ այս կողմով աւելի լուսաբանեցէք որովհետեւ շատ նեղուած եմ եւ մտահոգ եմ Հայաստանի վիճակով:

 

Կանխահայտ շնորհակալութեամբ,

Անահիտ

Edited January 12, 2006 by Anahid Takouhi

[Sasun]

Opposition Bloc Silent On Member’s Likely Defection

 

www.armenialiberty.org

By Astghik Bedevian

 

The main opposition Artarutyun alliance refused on Thursday to comment on the likely defection of one of its most prominent members to an ambitious party set up by a government-connected Armenian “oligarch.”

 

Victor Dallakian, the number two figure in the bloc’s parliament faction, is poised to be the official chairman of millionaire businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s party called Prosperous Armenia. Dallakian did not deny this in an interview with RFE/RL on Wednesday.

 

“The alliance has not discussed the issue,” said Grigor Harutiunian, a member of its governing board who is close to the top Artarutyun leader, Stepan Demirchian. He was speaking with reporters after a meeting of the Artarutyun board.

 

“I don’t want to take at face value what has been reported by the media,” he added. “Knowing my colleague, I think that if something happens we in the alliance will be the first to know it.”

 

Asked whether he spoke with Dallakian about the matter, Harutiunian said, “I see no point in asking him.”

 

Other Artarutyun leaders also reserved judgment on what will likely be one of the most dramatic political realignments in Armenia’s post-Soviet history. “If Prosperous Armenia has decided to play an opposition role in Armenia, I will happily step aside,” one of them, Vazgen Manukian, joked.

 

Representatives of the governing coalition were also reticent about the surprise development. Sources close to Prosperous Armenia claim that the three pro-government parties aligned in the coalition are worried about Tsarukian’s and other oligarchs’ entry into big politics and have even proposed to team up with the latter.

 

But a leader of the largest government force, the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), dismissed the claims as “silly.” Still, Tigran Torosian did indicate his unease over Tsarukian’s political ambitions, deploring the growing importance of financial resources in Armenian politics.

 

“I think money definitely plays an indirect role during election campaigns,” Torosian told RFE/RL. “Somebody can spend more, others can spend less. But if money becomes the decisive factor, that is certainly unacceptable.”

 

Albert Bazeyan, a parliament deputy from Artarutyun, made a similar point. “Unfortunately, we are approaching a situation where competition will center not on political views or programs but financial resources,” he said.

 

But Levon Mkrtchian, the parliamentary leader of another coalition party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, saw nothing wrong with the emergence of the new political organization. “I have good personal relations with many opposition politicians and entrepreneurs,” he said. “I am sure that if they create a party, their positive role in Armenia will grow. So I am not jealous. Neither is my party.”

[Sasun]

Սիրելիներ Եդուարդ, Մովսէս եւ կամ Սասուն;

 

Շատ կը խնդրեմ ինց քիչ մը ավելի բացատրեցէք եւ լուսաբանեցէք. Արդեօք սա Տօտի Կակօ ըսուածը դա Ծարուկեանն՞ է:

Yes.

Եւ յետոյ, Քոչարեանը այդ քողին ինչու կ՚ընդառաչէ եւ եթէ զինքը ընտռէն միթէ Հայաստանի վիճակը շատ ավելի չի՞ վատթառանար.

Because this guy has a lot of money and resources to rig the votes, and he helped Kocharian in the elections.

եւ յետոյ ի՞նչ պիտի ըլլայ խեղճ ժողովուրդին վիճակը հոդ: Արդեոք այդ անիծեալ քողը կը կարծէք որ իր մուրազին պիտի կարենայ տիրանա՞լ: Երբ այս լուրը արի սիրտս շատ նեղուեցաւ եւ մտահոգ եմ Հայաստանի եւ հոնտեղի արդէն խեղճ աղքատ Հայ ժողովուրդի վիճակին:

 

Վերեվի լուրին մէչը կըսէ թէ արդէն սա կեղտոտը դաքսի խաղեր կը խաղայ եւ կը կողոպտէ կոր կառավարութեան. եւ հիմակ կուզէ լիովին կողոպտել եւ աւելի կեղեքել ժողովուրդին, եթէ կառավարութիւնը մատ ունի եւ հետն է այս քողին, ուրեմն ժողովուրդը ի՞նչ կրնայ ընել որ աւելի չկեղեքղուի՞ երբ այս անիծեալը ընտռուի: Եվ նաեւ ի՞նչ կրնայ ընել ժողովուրդը որ սա կեղտոտը չնտռուի:

 

Խնդրեմ ինձ այս կողմով աւելի լուսաբանեցէք որովհետեւ շատ նեղուած եմ եւ մտահոգ եմ Հայաստանի վիճակով:

 

Կանխահայտ շնորհակալութեամբ,

Անահիտ

Well, well, there is not much I can say about it. If the people of Armenia can tolerate then what can be done?

[Takoush]

Yes.

 

Because this guy has a lot of money and resources to rig the votes, and he helped Kocharian in the elections.

 

Well, well, there is not much I can say about it. If the people of Armenia can tolerate then what can be done?

Hamenayn tebes shenorhagal em Sasun jan vor ints badaskhanetsir yev qone gertsadzit chap qohatsoum devir im hartsoumnerous.

[Sasun]

'Oligarchic’ Party Unveils Manifesto Amid Mass Recruitment Of Members

 

www.armenialiberty.org

By Astghik Bedevian and Ruzanna Stepanian

 

An ambitious political party, set up by one of Armenia’s wealthiest and most powerful men recently, unveiled its political manifesto on Friday in advance of the first conference of its leaders and activists.

 

Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party published the “basic principles” of its program in four daily newspapers amid the ongoing mass recruitment of its rank-and-file members among public sector employees in the government-connected tycoon’s de facto fiefdom. The process is part of his reported plans to win or at least make a strong showing in next year’s parliamentary election.

 

The 33-page document calls for the establishment of rule of law in Armenia which it says must be governed by “individuals enjoying the people’s trust, espousing sublime values and pursuing honest goals.” The party also pledges to broaden political pluralism in the country by giving the opposition a greater role in parliament and even a representation in the Armenian president’s National Security Council.

 

Tsarukian, who has made a huge fortune thanks to his close ties with President Robert Kocharian, also promises through his party to fight for fair business competition by enacting anti-trust legislation and combating monopolistic practices.

 

The foreign policy section of the Prosperous Armenia manifesto stresses the need for Armenia to “deepen cooperation” with NATO and the United States. It at the same time calls for the continuation of the traditionally close Russian-Armenian relationship.

 

Prosperous Armenia sources told RFE/RL that the main author of the document is Victor Dallakian, a prominent opposition lawmaker and bitter critic of Kocharian’s regime who is expected to act as the nominal head of the party. They said the party will hold a public conference at the end of this month and its founding congress is planned for this fall.

 

The party, whose creation was announced in December, is regarded by Armenian analysts as a new support base of Kocharian and his most likely successor, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. Dallakian’s unpublicized inclusion into its leadership thus came as a huge surprise. The oppositionist, who has repeatedly denounced the “Karabakh clan” ruling Armenia, privately assures journalists that Prosperous Armenia will not operate under the tutelage of the Kocharian-Sarkisian duo.

 

Individuals close to Tsarukian have said that his party will differ markedly from other typical Armenian pro-establishment groups in that its leadership will mainly comprise prominent public figures, rather than government officials and wealthy businessmen. The party has already set up 41 territorial branches across Armenia. The figure matches the number of electoral districts existing in the country.

 

The composition of Prosperous Armenia’s central governing body has still not been officially announced, though. Sources say it will include several rectors and deans of state-run universities, five members of the National Academy of Sciences, at least seven pro-government parliamentarians even a pro-opposition journalist.

 

Incidentally, three of the four dailies that published the full text of the Prosperous Armenia manifesto are highly critical of the Kocharian administration. One of them, “Haykakan Zhamanak,” had alleged that a November 2004 arson attack on its editor’s car was the work of Tsarukian.

 

All four papers printed on Friday twice as many as copies as they do usually. The additional print run was also subsidized by Tsarukian.

 

The burly oligarch’s party is almost certain to win the 2007 election at least in Abovian, a town 15 kilometers north of Yerevan, and surrounding villages. Tsarukian was born and lives in one of those villages, and the entire area is considered to be his exclusive zone of influence.

 

The leader of Prosperous Armenia’s local chapter, Gegham Hayrapetian, told RFE/RL on Friday that local residents impressed with jobs created by Tsarukian and his charitable activities have been applying for party membership en masse. He said only those of them who want to join the party “very much” are actually admitted into its ranks.

 

Abovian’s Public School No. 1 is a case in point. All of its 40 or so teachers are already affiliated with Prosperous Armenia. “Look at our repaired roof. [Tsarukian] did it for our school,” one of them, Marietta Sardarian, said when asked to explain why.

 

Both Sardarian and the school principal, Sevil Hovannisian, insisted that none of the teachers was constrained to join the party. Their collective decision was an “expression of gratitude” to the tycoon, said Hovannisian.

 

The situation is similar in Abovian’s sole public policlinic. According to its director, Ruben Harutiunian, at least 40 of his 250 employees enlisted in Prosperous Armenia in a matter of days.

 

The recruitment process there is handled by the policlinic’s chief therapist, Margarita Karapetian. “People can’t be indifferent to Gagik Tsarukian because during all these years they have felt his support on their skin,” she said. “Perhaps it’s time for a payback.”

 

Support for the man, who epitomizes Armenia’s tiny class of millionaires riding in long motorcades and surrounded by notorious bodyguards, also seems strong among unemployed residents of Abovian. “I’m going to join [Prosperous Armenia] because [Tsarukian] is a great benefactor, a good Armenian,” said one man as he played backgammon in a local public park. “I’ll do whatever he asks me to.”

 

Another jobless man loitering nearby said he too will become a Prosperous Armenia member because Tsarukian had once given him firewood to heat his home in the winter. “It’s worth supporting that person,” he said. “It’s even worth making him our king. I just can’t think of a better president for Armenia.”

[Sasun]

I personally heard the account of a man in Gago's fiefdom, namely a town called Arinj, who refused to vote for Kocharian. Then Dodi Gago threatened him if he doesn't vote he has to pack and leave the town. The man was forced to vote for Kocharian. Now this same guy is buying everyone to get power... I see a big danger here.

[MosJan]

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN WILL BE CANDIDATE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

 

*

 

article's photo

«Levon Ter-Petrosyan will be nominated for the coming Presidential elections», announced president of the Armenian Pan-National Movement administration Ararat Zourabyan in «Pastark» club today. His statement cannot be considered official and final as the final decision must be made by Levon Ter-Petrosyan himself. But why does Mr. Zourabyan think that the first President of the Republic of Armenia will return to politics?

 

«I am sure that a few words by Levon Ter-Petrosyan are more important that the activities of whole political powers», Mr. Zourabyan said. He is sure that the present authorities have exhausted themselves; he mentioned that at present the most urgent problem of the party is to not allow the reproduction of the authorities, be it in the person of Serge Sargsyan or Vardan Oskanyan.

 

Taking into account the experience of the previous elections, Mr. Zourabyan claimed that the RA authorities never gather more than 10-15% of votes. «The rest is the result of fabrications. We shall try to prevent it». The previous elections showed not only the presence of fabrications, but also the impossibility of their prevention. The APNM has the solution to this problem too, “It was possible to prevent the fabrications in 2003 too if the opposition were a little more decisive”.

 

According to Ararat Zourabyan, no political power in Armenia can have significant success without cooperating with other powers. According to him, they are ready to cooperate with the Republican party and the RA Liberal-Progressive party.

[Lev7]

after almost selling out to Turks now he wants to be a president again?

[Harut]

wouldn't it be unconstitutional for him to run again?

[Lev7]

wouldn't it be unconstitutional for him to run again?

 

Armenia's constitution is a joke

[hayemyes]

Armenia's constitution is a joke

 

the saddest part is many people applaud and praise that guy...very sad...everytime i think about the political situation in armenia after the independance i feel like havin a heart attack...its not that im against the independance, i don't want to be misinterpreted...but we could have done much better after the independance, its sad we're still russia's pet dog after the collapse of USSR

[alby]

Seems like a family affair.

Who's gonna come after him? Kocharyan? again?

 

I have a feeling that he will be elected regardless of how many people vote for him. Kinda reminds me of the elections in this country, the U.S.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

ARMENIAN DAILY ACCUSES US EMBASSY OF MEDDLING IN TV COVERAGE

 

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan,

27 Feb 07

 

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on

27 February headlined "What will the US embassy dictate tomorrow?"

 

It became known yesterday that the US embassy was rather unnerved by

the fact that the news conference of the founder of the Heritage Party,

Raffi Hovhannisyan, at the Urbat Press Club was not sufficiently

covered by TV, as they believe. Moreover, the embassy phoned TV

companies and demanded explanations in this regard.

 

Perhaps the given situation can seem disrespectful towards commonsense

to some people. After all, it is up to a TV company to decide how

to cover a particular event and whether to broadcast it at all. But

this is not the first case, is it? US embassies all over the world

constantly show disrespect for commonsense. They consider it quite

possible to interfere in the internal affairs of both foreign countries

and private companies, to dictate TV companies whom to show, how much

to show and how to show.

 

What will the US embassy in Armenia decide to dictate tomorrow? Who

is allowed to participate in an election, and who is not. Who has

won and who has lost.

 

Lately, we had to remind the US embassy in Armenia on another occasion

of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention. It says all people having

personal and diplomatic immunity must "respect the laws and regulations

of the host country and not interfere in its internal affairs".

 

If the host country considers the interference in its internal affairs

to be too persistent, it usually declares the interfere persona non

grata even without explaining the reasons (in accordance with Article

9 of the Vienna Convention) or explaining it by activity incompatible

with a diplomatic post.

 

The principles "we will do as we like" and "we will dictate to whoever

we like" are applicable to some extent to the internal affairs

of one's own country but are absolutely inapplicable to foreign

affairs. However, it is quite difficult to imagine a situation when

someone in the United States dares to phone a TV company and demand

explanation as to why the address of a particular politician was not

sufficiently covered. And it is quite easy to imagine where exactly

the US TV company will send the person who phoned.